Beijing: Twenty-one people, including two of China’s top marathon athletes, died after freezing rain and high winds struck a 99-km mountain race in northwestern China, local officials said. Liang Jing, 31, an ultramarathon champion, and Huang Guanjun, the winner of the men’s marathon for hearing-impaired runners at China’s 2019 National Paralympic Games, were among those found dead, according to state media.
The deaths prompted outrage in China, with online commentators questioning the preparedness of the local government that organised the race, held at Yellow River Stone Forest Park in Gansu Province. Hours into the event on Saturday, the weather suddenly deteriorated as the runners were climbing 6,500 feet above sea level to the 19-km mark, according to Zhang Xuchen, the mayor of Baiyin city. Runners dressed in shorts and T-shirts were suddenly facing freezing conditions, and rain turned to hail. Some passed out from the cold.
“In a short period of time, hailstones and freezing rain fell in the area, and there were strong winds,” he said. “The temperature dropped.” By evening, officials had started a rescue effort involving 1,200 people, along with thermal imaging drones, state media reported. The race has been organised by the local government for the past four years. It was seen as a way to promote tourism in the area, which is one of China’s poorest provinces. This year, 172 people participated. “This is totally a manmade calamity. Even if the weather is unexpected, where were the contingency plans?” one commentator wrote. The Gansu Province government has set up a team to investigate the deaths, according to state news media.
