Japan's Third Charter Flight Arrives in Wuhan, China... "565 People Evacuated So Far"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] NHK reported that the Japanese government's third charter flight carrying 149 Japanese nationals who had been staying in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, the origin of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), arrived at Haneda Airport on the morning of the 31st.

According to the report, the third charter flight arrived at Haneda Airport around 10:20 a.m. that day. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare deployed doctors and nurses on the charter flight and confirmed symptoms such as fever and cough onboard. Additionally, after returning, eight people showing some symptoms were transported by ambulance to medical institutions. NHK, citing All Nippon Airways (ANA), reported that unlike before, the crew members on the third charter flight wore protective suits to prevent the spread of infection.

With this, the total number of Japanese nationals who have been repatriated from Wuhan via Japanese government flights is 565. On the 29th, 206 people returned on the first charter flight, and on the 30th, 210 people returned on the second charter flight.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga stated at a regular briefing that about 140 Japanese nationals remaining in the Wuhan area wish to return home. Secretary Suga said, "Among them (those wishing to return), some are in the city of Wuhan, but most are believed to be outside the city." The Japanese government is reportedly planning to dispatch a fourth charter flight around next week to transport the remaining returnees to their home country.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Taro Kono indicated at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting that he hopes to utilize private ferries contracted and docked by the Ministry of Defense as accommodations for people returning on the government’s charter flights.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.