21 runners eliminated as hail and wind force winds struck 62-mile ultra-marathon

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    Emily Sørensen
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    Rescue workers carry a stretcher as they work at the site where extreme cold weather killed participants of an 100-km ultramarathon race in Baiyin, Gansu province, China May 22, 2021. Picture taken May 22, 2021. cnsphoto via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT.

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    Rescue employees bring a stretcher as they look for survivors at the ultramarathon course in Baiyin, northern China (Picture: Reuters)

    More than 20 runners have actually passed away after freezing rain, hail and wind force winds struck a high-altitude ultra-marathon in China.

    The experienced runners were racing on a very narrow mountain course up 3,000 metres when the severe weather condition struck.  

    The 172 individuals were captured off guard by the abrupt conditions, with many runners not dressed for winter-like conditions and using short-sleeved tops.

    The 60-mile race likewise followed a fairly recognized course, having actually been held 4 times, according to an individual in the race who gave up and handled to make his method to security.

    ‘I ran 2 kilometres before the starting gun fired to warm up … but the troublesome thing was, after running these 2 kilometres, my body still had not heated up,’ the runner composed on WeChat, including that the severe weather condition was not anticipated.

    The most tough area, from mile 15 to mile 22, climbed up 1,000 metres. There, he stated the course was simply a mix of stones and sand, and his fingers grew numb from the cold.

    Rescue workers work at the site where extreme cold weather killed participants of an 100-km ultramarathon race in Baiyin, Gansu province, China May 22, 2021. Picture taken May 22, 2021. cnsphoto via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT.

    The ultramarathon runners were captured off guard by the abrupt freezing temperature levels and hail (Picture: Reuters)

    A man receives treatment at a hospital in Jingtai county after extreme cold weather killed participants of an 100-km ultramarathon race in Baiyin, Gansu province, China May 23, 2021. cnsphoto via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT.

    A guy gets treatment at a health center in Jingtai county after severe winter eliminated a number of runners (Picture: Reuters)

    When he lastly chose to reverse, he currently felt stunned. He stated he had the ability to make it to security and fulfilled a rescue team.  

    Some runners further along the course had actually fallen off the path into deep mountain crevices, according to a press reporter for state broadcaster CCTV. It was unclear the number of of them made it through.

    Video video revealed rescuers in winter season coats in the pitch-dark night browsing with flashlights along high hills and narrow courses. Search operations ended by midday Sunday, rescuers informed Xinhua news firm.

    Mandatory Credit: Photo by Xinhua/Shutterstock (11942654c) Rescuers search for victims in Jingtai County of Baiyin City, northwest China's Gansu Province, May 23, 2021. Lasting almost 24 hours, rescue work came to an end after extreme weather killed 21 during a 100-km cross-country mountain marathon race in Baiyin City, northwest China's Gansu Province, the local rescue headquarters said on Sunday. China Gansu Jingtai Marathon Rescue - 23 May 2021

    Rescuers look for victims in mountain crevices (Picture: Xinhua/Shutterstock)

    In this photo provided by China's Xinhua News Agency, rescuers walk into the accident site to search for survivors in Jingtai County of Baiyin City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Sunday, May 23, 2021. More than a dozen of people running a mountain marathon have died in northwestern China after hail, freezing rain and gale-force winds hit the high-altitude race, state media reported Sunday. (Fan Peishen/Xinhua via AP)

    The runners were racing on a very narrow mountain course up 3,000 metres (Picture: AP)

    Many individuals are hypothesizing online what preparations the organisers had actually made in case of an emergency situation.

    The race organiser did not instantly react to calls looking for remark, however Baiyin city Mayor Zhang Xuchen exceptionally apologised. The federal government assured a complete examination.

    ‘We express deep condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured,’ the mayor stated.

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