FOUR tourists have been found dead after their cars broke down in the middle of the “Sea of Death” as temperatures hit 38C.
The three men and a woman were found in the deadly desert in north-western China after they entered it without permission.
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The tourists were reportedly attempting to cross the Xinjiang Lop Nur Wild Camel National Nature Reserve, when the incident happened.
They began their dangerous journey on July 22 and were reportedly unprepared for the severe conditions ahead as temperatures frequently hit up to 40C.
They entered the nature reserve despite not having authorisation as part of a self-organised convoy and got lost somewhere along the way.
Following extensive search and rescue operations, the vehicle was located on 27th July, with two of the men and the woman found dead inside and the fourth person missing.
A rescue team was immediately created to search for the missing man, who was also found dead on the night of 29th July.
Chilling footage shows the moment emergency crews discovered the man’s corpse lying on his back in the sand.
In the video, he is seen wearing long trousers with his unbuttoned shirt revealing his decaying torso.
His face, arms, and feet are completely scorched and blackened due to the extreme temperatures the body was exposed to.
It is believed that after their vehicle broke down, he tried to search for help on foot while the three other passengers stayed behind waiting.
The Lop Nur National Wild Camel Nature Reserve, which covers an area of 26,000 square miles, is extremely dangerous to enter during the summer months as surface temperatures can reach up to 80 degrees Celsius.
Cars can easily get stuck in the loose sand and without proper equipment and large food and water supplies, it can quickly turn into a deadly experience.
The reserve is also closed off to tourists who are only allowed to enter with special permission as it is one of the three remaining habitats of the Wild Bactrian camel, a critically endangered species.
Local authorities told Chinese media: “In this protected area, there are wild camels that we protect.
“Their numbers are very small, and they were almost extinct before.
“The number of endangered wild animals that belong to the area has slowly increased a little in the past few years. They are very timid and afraid of people.
“Their habitat is in no-man’s land, so we locals never go there, for fear of disturbing them and destroying their ecological environment.”
Officials added: “We welcome visitors to come to us, but without obtaining consent or communicating with relevant departments, you must not enter this area alone, not only for your own safety but also for the area animals’ protection.”
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