Snow grounds flights in southern China airport

KUNMING, Dec.16 -- Kunming airport in southwest China's Yunnan Province was forced to temporarily close on Monday because of snow and icy conditions, the airport's administration said.

Kunming Changshui International Airport's two runways are not suitable for takeoff or landing.

According to the administration, the airport will not resume operation till 1 p.m..

Snow began to affect the airport at 9 a.m. on Sunday. As many as 152 flights had been canceled and more than 8,700 passengers stranded as of 9 p.m. Sunday, according to the airport.