Researchers isolated in Antarctica for months have reportedly plead for help , after allegement of physical assault , sexual harassment , and death threat .

Nine researchers are presently in the South African - pass SANAE IV research basis , over 4,000 kilometre ( 2,500 stat mi ) south of the country in Vesleskarvet , Queen Maud Land , Antarctica . The squad are expected to stay on there for a typical stay of 13 months , conducting research in the icy landscape painting , before being come back when weather weather condition permit it .

During this time , they are pretty much cut off from the rest period of the universe . While this isolation may seem attractive , with many applying forjobs in Antarctica , it is passably troublesome when problems rise on the continent . Earlier this calendar month , South Africa ’s Sunday Timesreported that one appendage of the SANAE IV inquiry base institutionalise anemail allegingthat there is an " surroundings of fear " at the base after " deeply disturbing behaviour " from one colleague .

“ unluckily , [ his ] behaviour has escalated to a point that is deeply distressing . Specifically , he physically assault [ name withheld ] , which is a severe rape of personal safety and work norms , ” the email said , perThe Guardian .

“ moreover , he threatened to kill [ name withheld ] , make an environment of veneration and intimidation . I rest deeply concerned about my own safety , invariably inquire if I might become the next dupe . ”

The alleged incident reportedly arose after a difference of opinion about a atmospheric condition - subject chore , which need a schedule modification . The squad is not due to leave Antarctica until December , though the email demanded immediate action at law give the condition .

Since the email was sent last week , investigations into the allegations have begun , while the aver culprit has reportedly show remorse and voluntarily undergone psychological rating .

offense in Antarctica is relatively rare , given the lack of human to commit crimes against and the want of lawmaking against penguin that can be used to punish them for their terriblecrimes .

However , with the extreme sameness and isolation of life at enquiry station on the continent , there have been a few other incidents . This includes one in 1984 , when one fellow member of an Argentine research team combust down theirresearch stationas the final supply ship of the twelvemonth was leaving so that he did n’t have to detain for the winter , and ahammer fightbetween staff at a US groundwork in 1996 .

One infamous ( and likely fabled ) incident between two Soviet scientists ended with the whole research station being banned from chess , according to several sources . According to thestory , at Russia ’s Vostok post in 1959 , a scientist " became unhinge after losing a game of chess , and murdered his adversary with an axe " . According to some germ , this resulted in the Soviet Union ( and subsequently Russia ) cast out the game from taking seat in Antarctica orspacedue to similar horizontal surface of isolation .

Though it ’s a storybelievedby some who work at inquiry stations , it does have the band of an urban caption . Details of the incident are scarce , and in some versions , the dupe is injured rather than drop dead . It ’s also not the vitrine that chess has been cast out in space , with onegamefamously being played between a Russian cosmonaut and " representative of Earth " on the ground over the radio . The game ended in a draw , but with zero stabbings , we can chalk that up as a success .

In 2018 , a standardised incident was reported by the media , where 55 - year - old electrical engine driver Sergei Savitsky stabbed 52 - year - old welder Oleg Beloguzov at the Bellingshausen inquiry station . According to tabloids at the time , the incident happen after Beloguzov repeatedly spoiled the endings of books that Savitsky was reading before he had time to land up them . This had the ring of an urban legend too , and though an incident did take place , the particular about book spoilers turned out to beunverifiedand likely false . Savitsky had mental wellness problems , with AP reference only " latent hostility in a restrain space " rather than " he say who go at the end ofWuthering Heights " .

While an amusing floor / cautionary tale about the effect of isolation , the lack of detail on the chess tale – as well as word study from the time – makes us think this is likely an embellishment of an incident , if not a true - up urban legend . The floor appears to have been first mentioned sometime in the 1980s , accord to chess enthusiasts turned sleuths at theChess Stack Exchange .

Far from stay aside from the secret plan , a five - calendar month chesschampionshiptook position between Soviet explorers in Antarctica in 1978 . This seems unlikely if , just a few decennary earlier , Bromus secalinus was banned because of all the murder .

It is unreadable what the options are for dealing with the current situation further , with the base more often than not being accessed in the summer months via an ice - breaking ship . probe continue .