Harsh weather kills 21 runners in Gansu, China ultramarathon

TWENTY-ONE people were killed after hail, freezing rain and high winds hit runners taking part in a 100km cross-country mountain race in China, state media said on May 23.

The extreme weather struck a highaltitude section of the race held in the scenic Yellow River Stone Forest near Baiyin city in northwestern Gansu province on May 22 afternoon.

Among the dead were elite Chinese long-distance runners, local media reported.

The official Xinhua News Agency confirmed that the death toll had risen to 21, citing the local rescue command headquarters. State broadcaster CCTV also reported that the final missing competitor had been found dead.

Baiyin city mayor Zhang Xuchen said that at around midday on May 22 a section of the rugged ultramarathon course – between kilometres 20 and 31 – was “suddenly affected by disastrous weather”.

“In a short period of time, hailstones and ice rain suddenly fell in the local area, and there were strong winds. The temperature sharply dropped,” Zhang said.

Shortly after receiving messages seeking help from some participants, marathon organisers dispatched a rescue team that managed to save 18 of the 172 participants.

At around 2pm, weather conditions worsened and the race was immediately called off as local authorities sent more rescuers to help, Zhang said.

The victims included top domestic marathon runners Liang Jing and Huang Guanjun, local media reported, citing a friend of Huang’s and Wei Pulong, Liang’s coach.

Huang, who was deaf-mute, won the men’s hearing-impaired marathon at the 2019 National Paralympic Games held in Tianjin.

“As the event’s organiser, we feel a deep sense of guilt and self-blame,” Zhang said.