Official media in China reported on Sunday that 21 racers lost their lives due to a severe cold wave that struck a running race in Gansu Province in the northwest of the country on Saturday. The race, which covered a distance of 100 kilometers, began on Saturday morning from a tourist site on the Yellow River, the second-longest river in the country. The course included deep valleys in rugged areas.
Officials in the city of Baiyin stated in a press conference on Sunday that a wave of cold, snowy rain, and strong winds hit a mountainous section of the race's route, causing temperatures to drop sharply. A total of 172 racers participated in the marathon, and the Xinhua News Agency reported that the safety of 151 racers was confirmed on Sunday, including eight who sustained minor injuries.
