The race started under clear skies, but by the time the lead runners hit the ten-kilometer mark, the course was a river. A sudden, violent flash flood swept through the half-marathon route on Sunday, forcing organizers to abandon the event as rising water trapped dozens of vehicles in a nearby parking lot.
Participants described a chaotic scene. What began as a steady rain transformed into a torrent within minutes, overwhelming drainage systems and turning suburban streets into waist-deep channels.
“We were at the water station when the street just vanished,” said Mark Evans, a runner who abandoned his race to help others reach higher ground. “Within five minutes, the water went from ankle-deep to hitting the doors of the cars parked along the curb.”
Emergency services received over 40 distress calls in less than an hour. Fire crews spent the afternoon using inflatable rafts and high-clearance vehicles to reach drivers stranded in submerged cars. By 2:00 p.m., the local police confirmed that while several people were treated for shock and minor hypothermia, there were no reported fatalities.
The economic impact is already mounting. Twenty-two vehicles were totaled after floodwaters surged through the event’s primary parking zone, leaving owners to wade through debris-filled water to salvage what they could. Insurance adjusters are expected on-site Monday morning to begin the grim process of totaling the losses.
City officials are now facing questions about the failure of the drainage infrastructure in that district. A spokesperson for the municipal works department noted that the rainfall intensity—nearly three inches in under 45 minutes—exceeded the system’s design capacity.
For the runners, the focus shifted from personal bests to survival. The finish line medals, intended for those who completed the 13.1 miles, were instead distributed to the volunteers who stayed behind to help clear the course of debris.
The city’s emergency management office has issued a warning for residents to avoid low-lying areas, as the ground remains saturated and more rain is forecast for the coming 24 hours. The race, which had been a staple of the city’s athletic calendar for over a decade, is now the subject of an internal review into safety protocols.
