Extreme cold weather kills 21 ultra-marathon runners in China

According to official Xinhua news agency, a total of 172 people took part in the race. Over 150 participants had been confirmed safe, including the injured,

A further eight runners were being treated in hospital for minor injuries.

“Temperatures in the mountainous terrain dropped further overnight which is making search and rescue more difficult,” said Xinhua.

“Abrupt and extreme weather hit a high-altitude section of the 100-kilometre cross-country race held in the Yellow River Stone Forest near Baiyin city at around noon on Saturday”, officials said during a briefing on Sunday.

Referring to the incident, Baiyin city mayor Zhang Xuchen stated, “At around noon, the high-altitude section of the race between 20 and 31 kilometres 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”.

He further stataed, “This incident is a public safety incident caused by sudden changes in weather in a local area”.

“Provincial authorities will further investigate its cause,” he added.

Shortly after receiving messages of help from some participants, marathon organizers dispatched a rescue team that saved 18 participants.

Moreover, at about 2pm (06:00 GMT), weather conditions worsened and the race was immediately called off as local authorities sent more rescuers to help.

A landslide following the severe weather also hampered the rescue work, the Baiyin officials said.

Gansu is one of China’s poorest regions, borders Mongolia to the north and Xinjiang to the west. Its rock formations are believed to be four billion years old.

In 2010, deadly floods and landslides have hit the province with mudslides, reportedly killing more than 1,000 people in one town.

It is also prone to earthquakes.

Yellow River Stone Forest is famous for its rugged mountain scenery marked by stone stalagmites and pillars, and is used as a location in many Chinese television shows and movies, according to the China Daily.