Eight runners were taken to hospital after a marathon in the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas

Eight runners were taken to hospital after suffering from heat-related illnesses, after participating in a marathon held near the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas, in light of record temperatures, local authorities reported Monday.
The Peace Marathon in the Demilitarized Zone in the city of Paju allows participants to test their abilities on a path that extends along the highly sensitive zone separating South Korea and North Korea.
Temperatures approached 30 degrees Celsius during Sunday’s race, at a time when most parts of the Korean Peninsula were under the influence of a warm air mass that resembled summer weather rather than the usual mild spring weather.
Officials said that 12 runners suffered from health problems, including convulsions, dizziness and hyperventilation.
Eight runners were taken to hospital, including a 43-year-old man who required intensive care.
Authorities said the injured runners appeared to continue pushing themselves despite the high temperatures.
A fire official urged people to pay attention to symptoms of heat stroke, and to “immediately stop exercising and cool down” if they appear.
In the capital, Seoul, which is about 30 kilometers from Paju, temperatures reached 29.4 degrees Celsius over the weekend, the highest level recorded in mid-April since modern documentation began in 1907.
The Korea Meteorological Agency told AFP that the heat wave was likely caused by a temporary weather system pushing warm air northward, a pattern sometimes observed during the spring.
Human-induced climate change also contributes to rising global temperatures and worsening extreme weather events.