Twenty-one (21) participants in an ultramarathon in China died after hail, freezing rain and high winds hit runners in the cross-country mountain race.
According to the China Central Television (CCTV), the state broadcaster, one participant in the ultramarathon who had been missing was found at 9:30 am, but “had already lost their vital signs”. CCTV said:
_This suggests that this incident caused 21 deaths in total._
City officials had earlier confirmed 20 deaths and one person missing at a briefing earlier on Sunday.
They said extreme weather hit a high-altitude section of the race held in the Yellow River Stone Forest near Baiyin city in northwestern Gansu province Saturday afternoon.
Baiyin city mayor Zhang Xuchen said that at around midday, a section of the ultramarathon course, between 20 and 31 kilometres, was “suddenly affected by disastrous weather”. Zhang said:
_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._
Shortly after receiving may-day calls from some participants, marathon organisers dispatched a rescue team that managed to save 18 of the 172 participants.
Zhang added that weather conditions worsened around 2 pm prompting authorities to call off the race and send more rescuers.
State news agency Xinhua reported that some of the runners suffered from hypothermia as a result of the weather, and Zhang said earlier that eight people were being treated for minor injuries in hospital and were in a stable condition.
Video footage broadcast on state media showed emergency rescue personnel in combat fatigues carrying flashlights as they climbed through the rocky terrain at night.
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More: Pindula News; AFP