Eight runners hospitalized after collapsing during South Korea marathon | Athletics news

Heat-related illnesses cause 12 runners to collapse during the race near South Korea’s demilitarized zone.

Eight runners were taken to hospital with heat-related illnesses after a marathon near South Korea’s demilitarized zone with North Korea took place amid record temperatures, local authorities said.

Temperatures approached 30C (86F) for Sunday’s race as much of the Korean Peninsula baked under a warm front more akin to summer than the typical mild spring weather.

The DMZ Peace Marathon in the city of Paju allows participants to test their mettle on a course that runs near the highly sensitive area that separates South and North Korea.

Emergency services received reports around 10:30 a.m. (01:30 GMT) that participants were collapsing along the race route in Munsan, a town in Paju, according to fire officials, local reports said.

Twelve runners fell ill, including convulsions, dizziness and hyperventilation, officials told the AFP news agency on Monday.

Eight were taken to hospital, including a 43-year-old who required intensive care.

Authorities said the runners appeared to be pushing themselves despite the rising heat.

A fire official urged people to watch for signs of heat stroke and “stop exercising and cool down immediately” if it occurs.

In the capital, Seoul, about 30 km (19 miles) from Paju, temperatures hit 29.4 C (84.9 F) over the weekend, the highest in mid-April since modern record-keeping began in 1907.

The Korea Meteorological Administration told AFP the heat spike was likely caused by a temporary weather system pulling warm air northward, a pattern sometimes seen during spring.