Fire on Amsterdam Island: the fire continues to progress

The press release:

On Wednesday January 15, 2025 around 3 p.m. local time (Amsterdam), a fire broke out near the scientific buildings located on Pointe Bénédicte, 2.5 km from the Martin de Viviès base on Amsterdam Island ( district of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands). Favored by a wind coming from the southwest and despite the efforts made on site to contain it, the fire spread to the vegetation towards the base.

A crisis unit was immediately activated at the prefecture of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, with the support of the zone headquarters, the departmental fire and rescue service of La Réunion, the inter-regional management from Météo France and CROSS.

Thanks to the responsiveness and professionalism of the district’s 31 personnel (soldiers, technical agents, scientists and civic service volunteers), no injuries were reported. However, given the progression of the fire towards the base, it was decided to evacuate them.

The Austral, a SAPMER fishing boat in the Saint-Paul EEZ, diverted on January 15 at the end of the afternoon towards Amsterdam Island and arrived in the area around midnight ( local time). The evacuation of all personnel on board was able to begin at daybreak and be finalized at 6:30 a.m. local time. All staff are in good health.

The Marion Dufresne, a TAAF supply ship, on mission to Kerguelen on behalf of IFREMER, also set sail for Amsterdam on the evening of January 15, 2025. It is expected on the evening of January 17 on site to recover the 31 personnel evacuated by the Austral.

At this stage, the fire continues to progress on the island.

The senior prefect and administrator of the TAAF would like to salute the maritime solidarity at work and the coolness shown by the teams on site throughout the crisis.