22 Airlifted From Base in Antarctica; 69 Still Marooned
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HOBART, Australia — A helicopter airlifted 22 Australian scientists stranded in Antarctica to an icebreaker offshore, but 69 others remain marooned as sea ice closes in, a government official said Friday.
“It’s a race against time,” said Mark Wolff, spokesman for the Science Department.”We’re pressing it a bit, but we hope to get them out.” He said the 22 expedition scientists, researchers and technicians were rescued by helicopter Thursday from Australia’s Edgeworth David Station and taken to the icebreaker Nella Dan.
“The worst that could happen is that some of them will have to remain in Antarctica until October,” Wolff said. He said that in about two weeks the encroaching ice will keep icebreakers too far away to reach the scientists. None of the Australian bases have a landing strip, so icebreakers must get within helicopter range, about 50 miles.
Australian Science Minister Barry Jones said conditions in Antarctica are the worst on record.
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