Twenty-one people were killed when extremely cold weather struck during an ultramarathon in rugged Gansu province in northwestern China, sparking public outrage yesterday over the lack of contingency planning. The 100-km race began on Saturday from a scenic area at a bend in the Yellow River known for its sheer cliffs and rock columns. The route would take runners through canyons and hills on an arid plateau at an elevation of over 1,000 metres. After kicking off at 9:30am, around noon on Saturday, a mountainous section of the race was hit by hail, freezing rain and gales that caused temperatures to plummet, officials from Baiyin told a news briefing yesterday. A massive rescue effort was initiated, with over 1,200 rescuers dispatched. A total of 172 people took part in the race. 151 participants had been confirmed safe.