Runner perishes in sudden, violently forceful storm during race in Romania
In a shocking turn of events, a 50-year-old male runner from Bucharest lost his life during the Bucovina Ultra Rocks 88k race on July 26, 2025. The incident occurred in the Giumalău Massif area of the Carpathian Mountains, approximately 63 kilometers into the race[1][2].
The tragedy unfolded when a sudden, violent storm hit the race course without any prior weather warnings. The storm, which developed unexpectedly despite continuous monitoring by race organizers, caused major disruption as fallen trees blocked access roads, delaying rescue efforts[2].
The man was caught by a falling tree during the storm and was pronounced dead at around 11:25 p.m. after rescuers were unable to resuscitate him[1][2]. The Department of Emergency Situations made a post regarding the incident on their Facebook page.
The storm's destructive force resulted in widespread damage across eastern Romania, with buildings and cars being swept away due to the floods. The incident also affected the race itself, as race organizers suspended the race and cancelled a shorter event due to the storm[2].
A total of 23 other runners had to be evacuated for safety reasons. Some of the evacuated runners were suffering from mild hypothermia, but none required hospitalization[1][2][4].
Bucovina Ultra Rocks is part of the Europe Trail Cup 2025 circuit and consists of eight different distances from 5k to 100 miles[3].
Despite the tragic incident, race organizers and emergency teams responded quickly, locating and rescuing runners using GPS and phone calls, and managing evacuations under challenging weather and terrain conditions[1][2].
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased runner at this difficult time.
[1] Department of Emergency Situations (2025). Post on Facebook. [2] Bucovina Ultra Rocks (2025). Press release. [3] Europe Trail Cup (2025). Official website. [4] Local Hospital (2025). Statement to media.
- The unexpected storm that hit the Bucovina Ultra Rocks 88k race on July 26, 2025, disrupted not only the race but also general news, causing widespread damage across eastern Romania and affecting the weather of the region.
- Besides the tragic accident that occurred during the Bucovina Ultra Rocks race, several other sports events were canceled or postponed due to the adverse weather conditions, highlighting the need for effective weather monitoring and emergency preparedness in sports events.
