On the 9th, a photographer from Inner Mongolia got lost and stranded while driving alone between the “Sea of Death” Lop Nur and the Dunhuang Yardang Geological Park. After sending a distress message to a friend, he lost contact with the outside world. At 10:26 a.m. on the 9th, our newspaper received an emergency call and immediately coordinated with local police. A search team composed of one police officer from the Yadan Police Station of Dunhuang City Public Security Bureau and three off-road vehicle enthusiasts from Dunhuang entered the desert and successfully located the stranded man that same night. At 7 p.m. on the 10th, the rescued man returned safely to Dunhuang.
Distress Call: Inner Mongolia Photographer in Danger in the “Sea of Death”
At 10:26 a.m. on April 9, an Inner Mongolian man named Laoba, who had previously worked with our newspaper, called to report that his friend Bateer had recently driven into the Lop Nur area from Xinjiang alone. Due to running out of fuel and losing direction, he was stranded. After sending a distress message on the morning of April 9, he lost contact. He hoped our newspaper could coordinate with local police to carry out a search and rescue mission.
Time is life. The reporter immediately contacted the 110 Command Center of Jiuquan City Public Security Bureau and worked with local police to verify the stranded person’s identity and related information.
Through multiple channels, the reporter learned that the stranded man, Bateer, is from Inner Mongolia and is a seasoned photographer. A few days earlier, Bateer had set off from Inner Mongolia in an American-style jeep, embarking on a self-driving tour through Xinjiang, Gansu, and Qinghai for photography and travel. Around 10 a.m. on April 9, one of Bateer’s friends checked his phone and saw a message Bateer had sent around 7 a.m. that morning: “I’m heading straight from Lop Nur to Dunhuang. Now I’m near the Gansu Devil City and have gotten lost. I’m almost out of fuel and can’t reach anyone. Remember my location: 41°10’52”N, 92°58’47”E. I may be in danger now and hope for help.” He immediately forwarded this message to another friend of Bateer’s, Laoba.
Rescue: Dunhuang Police and Civilians Urgently Search for Missing Man
Around 11:30 a.m., after receiving the reporter’s emergency call, the 110 Command Center of Jiuquan City Public Security Bureau immediately instructed the Dunhuang City Public Security Bureau to investigate the situation and provide assistance. At 11:40 a.m., Chen Chun, head of the Yadan Police Station of Dunhuang City Public Security Bureau, received the directive from the city bureau.
Wilderness search and rescue is a challenging and perilous task. With insufficient police manpower at the station, Chen Chun sought help from Li Xiangjun, a member of an amateur off-road vehicle club in Dunhuang. Members of this club frequently participate in local police-led wilderness rescues and search missions and never turn down requests for help.