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Marathon Mayhem: Runners Collapse in Record Heat
20 Apr
Summary
- Eight runners hospitalized due to heat illness during a marathon.
- Record temperatures near 30C impacted the event near the DMZ.
- Emergency services responded to collapsing participants on the race route.
Eight runners participating in the DMZ Peace Marathon near South Korea's border with North Korea were taken to the hospital on Sunday due to heat-related illnesses. The event took place amid record high temperatures, with the mercury approaching 30C (86F), a level more typical of summer than spring.
The race, held in the city of Paju, follows a course close to the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone. Emergency responders were alerted around 10:30 am local time to several participants collapsing along the route in Munsan, a town within Paju.
Officials reported that twelve runners fell ill, experiencing symptoms such as convulsions, dizziness, and hyperventilation. Eight were transported to medical facilities, including a 43-year-old who required intensive care. Authorities noted that the affected runners appeared to have exerted themselves despite the rising heat.
This heatwave also affected the capital, Seoul, where temperatures reached 29.4C (84.9F), marking the highest mid-April temperature since record-keeping began in 1907. The Korea Meteorological Administration attributed the unusual warmth to a temporary weather system drawing warm air northward.
