21 people died after extreme weather struck during an ultramarathon over the weekend in China’s northwestern Gansu province.
The roughly 60-mile race began Saturday morning at a bend in the Yellow River Stone Forest near the city of Baiyin, according to Reuters. The route included a plateau and steep rock formations at an elevation of more than 3,000 feet. Photographs posted on social media showed overcast weather with runners wearing t-shirts and shorts.
China’s Meteorological Administration projected moderate to strong winds from Friday night to Saturday and a separate report from provincial weather services forecasted a “significant” drop in temperatures through Sunday, according to Reuters. Local officials noted during a news briefing Sunday that one section of the route was affected by hail, freezing rain and gales.
“The rain was getting heavier and heavier,” marathon participant Mao Shuzhi told Reuters. “At first I was a bit regretful, thinking it might have just been a passing shower, but when I saw the strong winds and rains later through my hotel room window, I felt so lucky that I made the decision.”
The ultramarathon was halted after many of the participants went missing. In screenshots of messages in a runners’ group chat that Mao provided Reuters, participants said they suffered from hypothermia and had lost their way in the strong winds and freezing rain. (RELATED: Over 250 People Caught Cheating During Half-Marathon In Shenzhen, China)
Authorities dispatched more than 1,200 rescue workers who were assisted with thermal-imaging drones, radar detectors and demolition equipment, Chinese state-backed outlet Xinhua reported. The local rescue headquarters confirmed Sunday that 21 of the 172 runners had died.
The deaths sparked public outrage on Chinese social media platforms, as users lambasted local officials over the lack of warnings and contingency planning, according to Reuters.
“As the organizer of the event, we feel a deep sense of guilt and remorse. We express our deep condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and the victims,” said Baiyin mayor Zhang Xuchen during a press briefing Sunday morning, according to Xinhua.