70 ultramarathon runners evacuated after being stranded by heavy rain: Officials
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Key Points:
- Approximately 70 runners and volunteers in Utah's Moab 240 ultramarathon were stranded overnight due to a heavy rainstorm and were evacuated by authorities and race organizers.
- The race, a 241.8-mile course through desert and mountainous terrain, was called off on Sunday because worsening weather conditions made it unsafe to continue.
- Race officials provided stranded participants with heated tents, hot food, and water at aid stations while coordinating their evacuation.
- The severe weather was caused by the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel and an El Niño-enhanced Kelvin wave, leading to flooding and heavy rain across Utah and other Western states.
- Organizers expressed regret over the race's premature end, emphasizing that participant safety was the top priority amid unpredictable weather.
