Members of a South African research team at an isolated Antarctic base were placed under psychological assessment after a colleague accused him of physical assault and sexual harassment.
The situation at Sanae IV Base was first reported in the Sunday Times newspaper in South Africa. This said he saw an email from a team member to the authorities asking for help.
The email allegedly attacked the basic leader and posed a death threat. The action “escalated to a deep, obstructive point.” A member of the team expressed in email that he was “deeply concerned about my own safety” and that he was constantly wondering whether I might become the next victim.
South Africa's Environment Ministry, which oversees the investigative mission, responded to the report in a statement Monday night.
FBI issues Spring Break Travel Warning after American College Student Losing After
The frozen section of the Loss Sea is depicted on Saturday, November 12th, 2016 at Scott Base in Antarctica. (mark AP, Ralston/pool photo via file)
The department said the alleged attack was reported on February 27th. The staff and counselors intervened remotely “to mediate and recover relationships at the base,” and spoke with nine team members almost every day, the statement said.
“The alleged perpetrators are willing to participate in further psychological assessments, express regret and are happy to be supportive,” the ministry said, adding that it wrote a formal apology to the victims of the assault.
Frozen sea views from Queen Mode Land. (Getty Images, Kanus/Ullstein Bild via file)
The investigation also examined allegations of sexual harassment, although reports of sexual assault were false, the ministry said. No team members have been identified and officials said none of the incidents require team members to return to Cape Town.
Fox News Digital contacted the South African Environment Ministry for details about what led to suspected physical attacks but did not respond immediately.
The team, which includes scientists, doctors and engineers, will arrive remotely on February 1 and is expected to stay for around 13 months, officials said.
Large floating solar power plants are making waves
The base is located on a cliff on Queen Mode land and is surrounded by glacial ice sheets over 2,485 miles from South Africa.
Penguins walk along the coast of Bya Almirantazugo, Antarctica, on January 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, file)
The team endures life in the near quarter through hostile Antarctic winters, with six months of darkness starting in June.
The ministry said each team member will undergo a psychological and medical assessment to address the “extreme nature of the Antarctic environment.”
Click to get the Fox News app
“Although all assessments and assessments do not show areas of interest, it is not uncommon for an individual to arrive in a very remote location where the scientific foundation is located, initial adjustments to the environment are required,” the ministry said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
