Twenty-one people died among the participants in a 100 km race on Saturday, May 22, in the mountains in northwestern China, under the sudden effect of severe weather conditions.
All the other competitors are safe and sound, since “At 3 o’clock in the morning on Sunday, 151 participants [étaient] safe “, according to the official news agency China New, which said that a total of 172 people took part in the race taking place in the Stone Forest of the Yellow River, near the town of Baiyin, in the province of Gansu.
A runner who was reported missing was found at 9:30 a.m. local time, but “Had already lost his life”, noted the CCTV television channel, citing the local first aid center. “This implies that this incident killed 21 people in total”, added CCTV. City officials had previously reported 20 dead and one missing.
Eight participants were also treated in hospital for minor injuries, said the mayor of Baiyin, Zhang Xuchen. New China had previously reported that some competitors were suffering from hypothermia.
“Disastrous weather conditions”
“Around noon, the high altitude stretch of the 20 to 31 kilometer race was suddenly affected by dire weather conditions. In no time, hailstones and freezing rain suddenly fell in this area, and there were strong winds. The temperature has dropped sharply ”, said Zhang Xuchen.
Shortly after receiving calls for help from some participants, the marathon organizers dispatched a rescue team which managed to save eighteen participants, according to the city councilor.
At around 2 p.m., the weather conditions worsened and the race was canceled, while local authorities sent more aid to the scene, he continued.
“This incident is a public safety incident caused by sudden changes in the weather in a local area”, he said, adding that provincial authorities would investigate his case further.
More than 700 rescuers mobilized
In total, more than 700 rescuers were mobilized to search for the missing. Local media footage showed rescue workers in fatigues with headlamps scaling the rocky terrain at night. Ultra-long runners were filmed wrapped in emergency blankets. Temperatures fell further overnight, making rescue and research even more difficult, according to New China.
Gansu, one of the poorest regions in China, borders Mongolia to the north and Xinjiang to the west. Deadly floods and landslides have hit the province in the past, with landslides reportedly killing more than 1,000 people in one town in 2010. It is also prone to earthquakes.
The Yellow River Stone Forest is famous for its rugged mountain scenery marked by stalagmites and stone pillars, and is used as a setting in many Chinese TV shows and movies, according to the China Daily.