Fear and isolation grip Antarctica expedition after attack
Scientists from South Africa, stationed at the SANAE IV base in Antarctica, found themselves in a dramatic situation after an attack by one of the expedition members. Doctor Herman Van Niekerk, who recently completed a two-month mission at the base, shared his experiences.
A group of nine scientists from South Africa, staying at the SANAE IV base in Antarctica, found themselves in a dramatic situation after an attack by one of the expedition members on the team leader. As reported by "Sunday Times," the scientists are living in fear of the aggressor, who threatened them with death. The South African government intervened, but difficult weather conditions are preventing swift assistance.
The South African Minister of Environment, Dion George, stated that the perpetrator apologised in writing for their behaviour. Despite this, there are no plans to end the expedition early, which is scheduled to last until December.
Doctor Herman Van Niekerk, a geologist from the University of Johannesburg, returned from a two-month expedition to SANAE IV, the base in Antarctica.
– The Antarctic is often romanticised, but when people realise what’s waiting for them… well, there’s not a lot of people who feel they’re up to it – said Van Niekerk in an interview with "The Telegraph".
Life at the base in Antarctica
The SANAE IV base consists of three blocks, housing laboratories, living quarters, a bar, and an engine room. Despite the presence of a doctor and engineers, there is no person responsible for safety. Winter in Antarctica means temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius and winds exceeding 193 kilometres per hour.
Van Niekerk emphasises that living in such extreme conditions can lead to drastic situations. Although crew members undergo psychometric testing, it is impossible to predict how isolation will affect their behaviour. – You just can’t predict how that will affect people in reality when there’s no life for miles – says Van Niekerk, describing how a student refused to leave the tent during an expedition when they were stuck about 200 kilometres from the base.
The scientist has been taking groups of students there for three years. – Some of them just can’t handle the isolation, the extreme and frightening weather conditions, the perspective you lose when you can’t judge distances in the whiteness – he stated in an interview with "The Telegraph".
Furthermore, scientists must manage resources responsibly to survive until the end of the expedition. Relationships between crew members are challenging, and living in solitude can lead to unpredictable situations. Van Niekerk recalls that some participants in his expeditions struggled with isolation and extreme conditions.
