21 runners killed after weather sudden, dramatic weather change during mount race in China

Published May 23 2021 at 2:21 PM GMT

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Twenty-one people died during a 62-mile mountain race in northwestern China after extreme weather struck the region, local officials said.
Liang Jing, a well-known 31-year-old ultramarathon champion, was among those who died.
The weather reportedly changed suddenly hours into the event while the runners were nearing the 12-mile mark at 6,500 feet above sea level.
"In a short period of time, hailstones and freezing rain fell in the area, and there were strong winds," Zhang Xuchen, the mayor of the nearby city of Baiyin, said.
Ultimately, 151 of the 172 participants were confirmed to be safe following a massive rescue effort.