Hong Kong airport cancels all departures after blockade by protesters

Airport authuroties said that terminal operations have been seriously disrupted.

Authorities at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday cancelled all departing flights after pro-democracy protesters blocked the facility for a second day.

Passengers talk with a member of the airport staff after the announcement that all airport operations are suspended due to an anti-government demonstration at Hong Kong Airport, China August 13, 2019. (REUTERS)

“Airport operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted, all departure flights have been cancelled,” a statement on the airport website said.

“All passengers are advised to leave the terminal buildings as soon as possible.”

The statement did not immediately make clear if flights were still arriving.

An earlier statement announcing that check-ins had been suspended said that flights were still arriving.

The decision came after thousands of pro-democracy protesters flooded into the airport for the second consecutive day and blocked passengers from reaching entrances to the departure area in both terminals.

It came a day after authorities announced the unprecedented complete cancellation of all arriving and departing flights over a massive rally.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)