CHENGDU - A severe thunderstorm has disrupted 80 flights, leaving about 9,000 passengers stranded in an airport in the city of Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, on Thursday afternoon.

The thunderstorm lasted from around 2:30 pm to 4:50 pm, delaying 71 inbound and outbound flights and causing the cancellation of nine others, according to a statement by the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

More flight delays are expected at the airport, authorities said, as a thunderstorm is forecast to batter the airport on Thursday evening.

The airport has started emergency response measures to ensure the efficiency and safety of both inbound and outbound flights.