Thread: Extreme cold weather hits China ultramarathon, kills 21 runners

At least 21 people have been killed after hail, freezing rain and high winds struck during an ultramarathon in China’s northwestern Gansu province, local officials said.


“Abrupt, extreme weather” hit a high-altitude section of the 100-kilometre cross-country race held in the Yellow River Stone Forest near Baiyin city at around noon (04:00 GMT) on Saturday, officials said during a briefing on Sunday.

“At around noon, the high-altitude section of the race between 20 and 31 kilometres was suddenly affected by disastrous weather. In a short period of time, hailstones and ice rain suddenly fell in the local area, and there were strong winds. The temperature sharply dropped,” said Baiyin city mayor Zhang Xuchen.


Shortly after receiving messages of help from some participants, marathon organisers dispatched a rescue team that managed to save 18 participants, he said.


At about 2pm (06:00 GMT), weather conditions worsened and the race was immediately called off as local authorities sent more rescuers to help, Zhang added.


“This incident is a public safety incident caused by sudden changes in weather in a local area,” he said, adding that provincial authorities will further investigate its cause.


A further eight runners were being treated in hospital for minor injuries, Zhang said.


A total of 172 people took part in the race. As of Sunday, 151 participants had been confirmed safe, including the injured, the official Xinhua news agency reported.


Temperatures in the mountainous terrain dropped further overnight, Xinhua said, making search and rescue “more difficult”.


A landslide following the severe weather also hampered the rescue work, the Baiyin officials said.


Gansu, one of China’s poorest regions, borders Mongolia to the north and Xinjiang to the west.


Deadly floods and landslides have hit the province in the past, with mudslides reportedly killing well more than 1,000 people in one town in 2010.


It is also prone to earthquakes.


Yellow River Stone Forest is famous for its rugged mountain scenery marked by stone stalagmites and pillars, and is used as a location in many Chinese television shows and movies, according to the China Daily.


Its rock formations are believed to be four billion years old, the Daily said.

Extreme cold weather hits China ultramarathon, kills 21 runners | China News | Al Jazeera

Sounds like poor planning.

It's the CIA what done it, comrade

Originally Posted by panama hat

It's the CIA what done it, comrade

Beat me to it!

(Plees no neims ear)

Ordinarily one would have sympathy but because they are PRC Chinese who support their PRC commie government that practises ethnic cleansing, torture, arbitrary violence and illegal detention in concentration camps used for force labour, i personally couldn't give a flying fuck especially when one considers their disgusting eating habits have destroyed the world for the past 15 months.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Ordinarily one would have sympathy but because they are PRC Chinese who support their PRC commie government that practises ethnic cleansing, torture, arbitrary violence and illegal detention in concentration camps used for force labour, i personally couldn't give a flying fuck especially when one considers their disgusting eating habits have destroyed the world for the past 15 months.

Wanker.

And yet the obvious racist gets upset when anyone points out that his comments are obviously racist.

What a barrel of sludge this place has become.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

Ordinarily one would have sympathy but because they are PRC Chinese who support their PRC commie government that practises ethnic cleansing, torture, arbitrary violence and illegal detention in concentration camps used for force labour, i personally couldn't give a flying fuck especially when one considers their disgusting eating habits have destroyed the world for the past 15 months.

Seems like a reasonable comment. But what if they are only pretending to be CCP supporters to throw off any suspicion that they are secretly plotting to remove the CCP mafia and turn the country into the worlds greatest democracy???

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

My dear chap, one is not inclined against PRC Chinks because of their ethnicity and geo-political status, but because they in the main support their government which practises institutional murder, torture, illegal detention and a totalitarian oppression of anyone who dares to express a divergent view to that maintained by a political status quo which tolerates no personal freedom on the basis of human rights as defined by the UN.

You silly little fuckwit. You sound like a virginal snowflake suckling on the teat of vacuity.

I think any smart person in that sort of environment would outwardly show support otherwise they might find themselves the victims of their governments actions.
So I don't believe anyone can claim they know how many people really support the Communist party as they don't remain in power due to a popular vote.