Scientists in a remote basis of research in Antarctic They have requested their rescue, alleging aggression, sexual harassment and death threats by a team member who say he is mentally unstable.
Trouble in isolated Sanae 4 The Sunday Times newspaper in South -Africa was first informed Claim that the man had attacked the leader of the base and made threats.
The email asked for help.
« His behavior has increased to a deeply disturbing point, » the email said, according to the Sunday Times. « I am deeply concerned about my own safety, asking -constantly me if I could convert —me in the next victim. »
The report claimed that the man made a threat of death and accused the team member of sexually storming another.
« In addition, he threatened to kill (another member of the team), creating an environment of fear and intimidation, » the unnamed researcher wrote.
The writer said it is now « essential that immediate actions be taken to ensure my safety and safety of all employees. »
According to the BBC there was a team of nine researchers Due to the Antarctic Winter to Sanae IV, which is directed by the national program of the South Antarctica -African and managed by the expedition of the South National Antarctica -African.
The base is approximately 170 kilometers from the edge of Antarctica’s ice shelf, more than 4,000 kilometers South -Africa. The average temperature at the base sits at -23 C in the winter months and wind speeds can exceed 200 kilometers per hour.
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The Ministry of the Environment of South -Africa, who oversees the research missions, said in a statement on Monday night that the alleged assault on the leader of the base was reported on February 27, and officials and counselors intervened remotely « to mediate and restore relationships at the base. » They talked to the team members almost daily, he said.
“The alleged author has voluntarily participated in a later psychological evaluation, he has done a remorse is shown and it is a co -operative« , The ministry said, adding that he had written a formal apology to the victim of the alleged assault. He said that complaints were being investigated. No one was identified.
The ministry said that all team members had been tested ahead of the trip to ensure that they were able to deal with the « extreme nature of the environment in Antarctica » and isolation and confinement, and no problem was identified.
« It is not uncommon for individuals to reach the extremely remote areas where the scientific bases are, an initial adjustment to the environment is needed, » he said.
The South Environment Minister -Africa, Dion George, whose department manages the country’s Antarctic program, told The Guardian that « There is an intervention in its place« And that the alleged assault was unleashed by » a dispute for a task that the team leader wanted the team to do, a task depending on the time that required a change of programming. «
The next visit scheduled for a supply ship is in December, according to the program of the South National Antarctica -African. The boat is needed for about 10 days to travel from Cape Town.
Authorities said they had decided not to evacuate anyone from Sanae IV, where the appearance of unpredictable weather conditions meant that the team was now limited to the base.
Previous problems have been reported in another of the South Remote Research Bases -Africa on Marion Island, a South Territory -African near Antarctica.
In 2017, a member of a research team broke a colleague’s room with an ax on an apparent love triangle, according to a report to the South -African Parliament. The legislators said that researchers seem to live in very stressful conditions.
The National Science Foundation, the Federal Agency that oversees the United States Antarctic Program, published a report by 2022, saying that 59 percent of women in the United States program said they had experienced harassment or assault While in Research Travel in Antarctica.
– With files from the associated press
& Copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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