TEL AVIV, Israel, March 15 (UPI) -- A participant in Israel's Tel Aviv Marathon died and a dozen others were hospitalized Friday after running in what officials called extreme heat.
Temperatures were in the 70s early but rose into the 90s and the Health Ministry issued a warning that the heat and humidity could pose serious health risks to runners.
Participants covered only part of the usual 26-mile marathon distance and the full event was postponed to March 22, The Jerusalem Post reported.
About a dozen runners were hospitalized with dehydration, fainting and heatstroke. Five patients were put under anesthesia and placed on respirators, officials said.
Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai said the runner who died was given medical treatment around 8 a.m., before the heat became too extreme.
"The city of Tel Aviv expresses its deep regret over the death of one of the runners in the city's marathon," he said.
Tel Aviv City Council member Reuven Lediansky called for an investigation into the decision to let people run despite the Health Ministry's warning.
"I am shocked that despite the warnings about the heat and the orders from the Health Ministry, that the mayor decided to hold the marathon anyway for financial reasons," he said.
