Eight runners hospitalised after collapsing during South Korea marathon

play Live Sign upShow navigation menu.css-15ru6p1{font-size:inherit;font-weight:normal;}Navigation menuNewsShow more news sectionsAfricaAsiaUS & CanadaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle EastExplainedOpinionSportVideoMoreShow more sectionsFeaturesEconomyHuman RightsClimate CrisisInvestigationsInteractivesIn PicturesScience & TechnologyPodcastsTravelplay Live Click here to searchsearchSign upNavigation menucaret-leftTrendingUS-Israeli war on IranTracking Israel's ceasefire violationsRussia-Ukraine warDonald Trumpcaret-rightSport|AthleticsEight runners hospitalised after collapsing during South Korea marathonHeat-related illnesses cause 12 runners to fall during the race near South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone. xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogleAdd Al Jazeera on GoogleinfoThe race, which was held near South Korea's Demilitarized Zone with North Korea, took place amid record temperatures [File: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters]By AFPPublished On 20 Apr 202620 Apr 2026Eight 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 its typically mild spring weather. The DMZ Peace Marathon in the city of Paju allows participants to test their mettle on a course running close to the highly sensitive area that separates South and North Korea. Emergency services received reports around 10:30am (01:30 GMT) that participants were collapsing along the race route in Munsan, a town within Paju, according to fire officials, local reports said. Twelve runners fell ill, including suffering convulsions, dizziness and hyperventilation, officials told the AFP news agency on Monday. Eight were taken to hospital, including a 43-year-old who needed intensive care.  Authorities said the stricken runners appeared to have pushed themselves despite the rising heat. A fire official urged people to look out for signs of heatstroke and “stop exercising immediately and cool down” if they occur. In the capital, Seoul, about 30km (19 miles) from Paju, temperatures hit 29.4C (84.9F) over the weekend, the highest in mid-April since modern record-keeping began in 1907. The Korea Meteorological Administration told AFP that the heat spike was likely caused by a temporary weather system drawing warm air northwards, a pattern sometimes seen during spring. Advertisement AboutAboutShow moreAbout UsCode of EthicsTerms and ConditionsEU/EEA Regulatory NoticePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyCookie PreferencesAccessibility StatementSitemapWork for usConnectConnectShow moreContact UsUser Accounts HelpAdvertise with usStay ConnectedNewslettersChannel FinderTV SchedulePodcastsSubmit a TipPaid Partner ContentOur ChannelsOur ChannelsShow moreAl Jazeera ArabicAl Jazeera EnglishAl Jazeera Investigative UnitAl Jazeera MubasherAl Jazeera DocumentaryAl Jazeera BalkansAJ+Our NetworkOur NetworkShow moreAl Jazeera Centre for StudiesAl Jazeera Media InstituteLearn ArabicAl Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human RightsAl Jazeera ForumAl Jazeera Hotel PartnersFollow Al Jazeera English: