Search teams are looking for a French Polar Institute diver who went missing during an under-ice dive in Antarctica earlier this week. The incident happened on Tuesday morning during diving operations in Adélie Land, according to a statement released by the Institut Polaire Français Paul-Émile Victor (IPEV) on social media.
IPEV said the diver was conducting a routine task linked to work at Dumont d’Urville station, the French research base in the region. The institute stated that the established safety procedures for the dive were in place and that a search began immediately after the diver did not return as expected.
Assistance has also been requested from other national programs operating in Antarctica. Australia’s Antarctic division confirmed it had been asked to help and said it was reviewing options to support the search effort.
Dumont d’Urville station sits on Petrel Island, off the coast of Adélie Land, and supports year-round scientific work in an environment known for extreme weather and operational challenges. Authorities have not released the diver’s identity, and they have not provided details about conditions at the time of the dive or what may have caused the disappearance.
In its statement, IPEV expressed condolences to the diver’s family, loved ones, and the personnel involved in the response. The institute also said an investigation will be carried out to understand the circumstances of the incident.
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