About 70 ultramarathon runners evacuated from Utah race after flooding

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 22:02 · Archive

Around 70 runners in Utah's Moab 240 ultramarathon were evacuated after being stranded by flooding from Tropical Storm Rachel.

About 70 runners in Utah's Moab 240 ultramarathon were successfully evacuated on Sunday after being stranded by flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel. The Daily Mail reports that runners and volunteers were stranded in the desert for 12 hours before being rescued.

The event's host, Destination Trail, coordinated with the local sheriff's office to rescue participants affected by the weather. Shuttles and personnel were sent to pick up runners. The ultramarathon was ultimately cancelled due to dangerous conditions, with parts of the course affected by fallen trees, potent winds, freezing temperatures and strong rain. Aid station structures were reported to have blown away.

Destination Trail said in a statement: 'We have great news – all runners are accounted for and either back at race headquarters or in a vehicle on the way back.' The organisation added: 'The weather has become too dangerous to safely continue – we're expecting conditions to get worse tonight.' The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel were still moving across Utah on Monday, with a flood watch in effect across most of the state.

How it is being reported

• Dozens of ultramarathon runners stranded in dessert as tropical storm battered WestAround 70 runners and volunteers were stranded in the Utah desert for 12 hours after the 240-mile race was canceled in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Rachel.Daily Mail · 13 Oct, 21:42
• About 70 ultramarathon runners in Utah evacuated after being stranded by floodingRunners in Moab 240 successfully evacuated from race route after flooding from remnants of tropical storm Rachel About 70 runners participating in Utah ’s Moab 240 ultramarathon were successfully evacuated from the race route on Sunday after being stranded by flooding stemming from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel . The event’s host, Destination Trail, addressed the emergency rescue effort in a social media statement which confirmed that all runners were safe and accounted for. Continue reading...Guardian World · 12 Oct, 18:36

In this story: Moab 240 · Destination Trail · Tropical Storm Rachel · Utah

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