Extreme weather kills 20 runners

The race was halted when some of the 172 runners went missing, and a rescue operation was launched. [Photo: Xinhua]

At least 20 people were killed when extremely cold weather struck during a 100-km (62-mile) cross-country running race on Saturday in China's northwestern Gansu province, local government officials said on Sunday.

Eight were lightly injured and one remained missing as of 8:00 a.m. Beijing time (0000 GMT) on Sunday, officials from Baiyin city told a news briefing.

The race was held on Saturday morning in the Yellow River Stone Forest, a scenic tourist site in Jingtai county under the jurisdiction of Baiyin. 

Many of the stranded runners reportedly suffered from hypothermia. [Photo: Courtesy]

The scene at the start of the race, as shown on local television. [Photo: Courtesy]