Gansu: 21 marathon runners die from extreme cold
Victims of hypothermia after the race was hit by heavy hailstorms, freezing rains and gusts of wind. Eight other runners hospitalized. Among the dead are two national champions of the discipline. Organizers accused of failing to make athletes wear heavy clothing.
Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Extreme cold yesterday killed 21 runners of a marathon in Gansu. Most of the victims died of hypothermia after a sharp drop in temperature (-6 degrees Celsius), following heavy hailstorms, freezing rains and gusts of wind. Eight of the 151 surviving athletes ended up in hospital with minor injuries.
The competition - 100 km long - took place in the Jingtai Stone Forest area. According to local media, Liang Jing, one of the best marathon runners in the country is among the deceased athletes; Huang Guanjun, who in 2019 won the marathon at the Paralympic National Games, would also have died.
The tragedy has sparked criticism against the organizers of the event, accused of not having taken into account possible meteorological risks. According to Caixin, several participants and rescuers reported defects in the organization of the race, especially the fact that anoraks and warm clothing were removed from the mandatory equipment for runners.
Local authorities have opened an investigation talking about a "public security incident". The tragedy is one of the worst misfortunes ever to happen during a marathon, not only in China, but all over the world.
Observers point out that it could have been avoided if organized with all the necessary precautions. On May 21, specialist sites had launched the warning for strong winds in the competition area. Each runner who finishes the race receives $ 248.
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07/02/2024 13:20
