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Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels - Sub-Antarctic Amsterdam Island is evacuated following a fire
A fire that that started on France’s sub-Antarctic Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean on 15 January has led to all 31 personnel occupying the Martin-de-Viviès scientific station being evacuated the next day “in the face of the flames that were out of control”. The fire broke out near Pointe-Bénédicte 2.5 km from the station and was quickly spread by strong winds to threaten the buildings. “The personnel first “tried to fight the fire but the weather conditions were very unfavourable, with strong gusts, so they were overwhelmed”. The island’s scientists and military personnel were first removed to the French crayfishing boat Austral early in the day after the fire commenced and then transferred to France’s polar supply and research vessel, Marion du Fresne, the following day, following its diversion from the French Kerguelen Islands to the east. According to reports, it is not yet known whether any buildings at the Martin-de-Viviès Station escaped the flames.
