An ultra-marathon in China ended in catastrophe: within a very short time, the temperature fell, hail blocked visibility, blankets were blown away: more than 20 participants were killed.
Beijing - An ultra-marathon in China ended in tragedy: 21 participants in a mountain marathon in northwest China were killed in an extreme storm with a drop in temperature.
Eight runners in the ultramarathon in the tourist attraction of the stone forest on the Yellow River in Baiyin had to be taken to hospitals, the state media reported on Sunday.
The marathon on Saturday led over 100 kilometers over mountains through rough terrain in Jingtai County (Gansu Province).
However, the 172 extreme athletes experienced a severe weather change with freezing rain, hail and squalls about 20 to 30 kilometers after the start.
Ultra marathon in China: drastic drop in temperature in a very short time
The temperatures dropped drastically within a very short time.
The storm simply blown away warming blankets made of emergency equipment that the runners, some of whom only dressed in shorts and T-shirts, had, reported state media.
Many runners got lost in the sometimes steep terrain, collapsed hypothermic and exhausted.
Participants desperately called for help on cell phones.
"Come to the mountains to save the people," one wrote in a text message.
"Too many are cold and lost."
Ultra marathon tragedy: participants desperately ask for help - "Are in a ravine"
"We are in a ravine," wrote another. “A runner suffers from hypothermia and can no longer move.” It was also reported: “Some are unconscious”. The calls for help also said: “It's tragic” and “Come as soon as possible!” Or “The wind is too strong”. The local authorities canceled the marathon and organized a rescue operation with 1200 helpers, which lasted overnight until Sunday, according to state media.
The search was very difficult in the rough terrain, up to 2000 meters high.
Only the first 24 kilometers of the running route were passable by car.
The temperatures also continued to drop overnight.
State media said drones with heat sensors were used to track down missing people.
Runners returning from the mountains reported that near the second checkpoint, freezing rain suddenly fell and strong winds came up.
Some cried, shaken, and reported seeing exhausted runners lying on the ground.
Ultra marathon in China: Extreme weather change - "Temperatures have almost fallen to zero degrees"
The temperatures had dropped to almost zero degrees, although the race had started in sunny weather that morning, as a participant in the newspaper "The Paper" reported.
The weather report did not predict a sharp drop in temperatures.
Few would have packed cold-weather clothing to reduce weight.
Although the organizers had obliged the runners to take small warming blankets with them in case of emergency, there were not enough.
Ultra marathon disaster in China: criticism of organizers
Among the dead were the winner of the previous races, Liang Jing, and the hearing impaired runner Huang Guanjun, who won the marathon at China's national Paralympic Games in 2019, state media reported.
The organizers and the lack of preparation were criticized on the Internet.
The question was asked “whether it was really a natural disaster or a man-made one”.
Experienced runners pointed out that when running courses under similar conditions, organizers required participants to bring warm and waterproof jackets and pants, as well as thermal underwear, gloves and hats.
At the race in Gansu, however, jackets were only "recommended", it was said.
Only the foldable emergency blankets were mandatory.
The provincial government set up a special commission to investigate the incidents. "As the organizers of the event, we feel deeply guilty and blame ourselves," said Zhang Xuchen, the mayor of Baiyin, at a press conference. "We extend our deepest condolences to the victims and their families." The search was concluded on Sunday morning. All the missing were found. 151 participants are safe.
The 100-kilometer mountain marathon in the picturesque tourist region has been held annually for four years together with two shorter cross-country runs of up to 21 kilometers.
The Hong Kong newspaper "South China Morning Post" reported that nearly 10,000 participants had registered for the three runs.
A tragic accident also cost the lives of several people in Italy.
A cable car crashed on Lake Maggiore.
(AFP)
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