China ultramarathon disaster: what happened during the storm that killed 21 runners?
- How did the tragedy unfold when a storm claimed the lives of 21 runners stuck on the mountain?
- The disaster mirrors a 2009 race in France, when trail running was growing in popularity and a race was not called off soon enough as the weather turned
The race was not a very high altitude one, compared to some races – there were no glaciers or high-altitude passes, the highest elevation at Yellow River Stone Forest 100km was 2,250 metres. The previous editions had gone off without problems and the race was gaining a reputation as a popular event.
But this year, nature had other ideas. There were weather warnings issued the day before the race but nobody expected the extreme conditions that followed.
Yet, runners commented on social media posts that even before the start of the race they had to take shelter from the wind that was gradually gaining strength. Others said they were relieved that it would not be too hot – temperatures in Gansu can be scorching.
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21 runners die in freezing weather during ultramarathon in northwestern China
Most runners were wearing shorts, T-shirts or light windbreakers when the conditions deteriorated about three hours into the race and the wind reached gale force. The temperature suddenly plummeted and hail started to beat down. Blown off their feet by the wind, faces and heads bruised and bloodied by hailstones and bodies soaked to the bone, many runners became disoriented and hypothermic. Unable to even stand, some tried to take shelter behind rocks, others got lost in the terrain of steep, eroded canyons.
Those who tried to find shelter among the rocks had their emergency blankets torn to shreds by the wind. Some died in the arms of their fellow runners while huddling together for warmth. Many could not be located in time in the harsh terrain and terrible visibility, even with the use of GPS trackers and rescue teams equipped with infrared cameras.
