According to Death Valley National Park on the 22nd, the desert valley in southeastern California has recently experienced frequent extreme heat waves, resulting in the tragic death of a 68-year-old French tourist.

On the 22nd, park officials stated that the tragedy occurred on the 17th, when the temperature soared to 46.7 degrees Celsius. Two French tourists were traveling together in a car in a remote area of Death Valley National Park when their vehicle became stuck in the mud. The two men got out and walked across the salt flats to try and reach the road with more traffic to seek help.

After walking about two kilometers, one of the men, a 68-year-old, became exhausted and stopped. His companion continued on alone and finally found a passing car, which he quickly took to the visitor center to report the emergency. Park staff and police immediately launched a search and rescue operation, but it was too late, and the man could not be saved.

“This incident is heartbreaking and serves as a reminder that the environment here can become extremely dangerous in an instant,” warned Mike Reynolds, the park’s director. “Death Valley has unique scenery, but it is unbearably hot, remote, and difficult to access, and there are dangers for visitors regardless of their experience.”

The park also reminded visitors that there is no cell phone signal in many areas of Death Valley; some roads are only suitable for off-road vehicles; and if a vehicle breaks down, it is usually safer to stay inside the vehicle, as search and rescue teams are more likely to find vehicles than hikers in open areas.

Death Valley National Park, established in 1994, covers approximately 13,650 square kilometers, making it the largest national park in the 48 contiguous states of the United States. Death Valley is one of the hottest places on Earth, and also the lowest, hottest, and driest place on the entire North American continent. Weather forecasts indicate that temperatures in the region may exceed 47 degrees Celsius this weekend.

(Source: CCTV News)