A blizzard on Christmas Eve left 74 men and women aboard a research ship stranded in Antarctica, frozen in the ice.
Fortunately, they all appear to have internet access, as a researcher aboard the ship has been tweeting updates on their status.
Shokalskiy met heavy ice Xmas Eve. Want to reassure family & friends all well. Chinese ice breaker expt'd 24hrs.
Chris Turney
@ProfChrisTurney
Shokalskiy met heavy ice Xmas Eve. Want to reassure family & friends all well. Chinese ice breaker expt'd 24hrs.
Chris Turney, professor of Climate Change at the University of New South Wales, has been tweeting photos and Vines from the stranded vessel.
Guardian reporter Alok Jha has been posting updates as well...
Like true polar explorers, @loztopham and I stuck in ice near Antarctica. Awaiting rescue by an icebreaker
Alok Jha
@alokjha
Like true polar explorers, @loztopham and I stuck in ice near Antarctica. Awaiting rescue by an icebreaker
From the Guardian: How to file a story when you are trapped in Antarctic ice – video http://t.co/czOZiBMEa3
Alok Jha
@alokjha
From the Guardian: How to file a story when you are trapped in Antarctic ice – video http://t.co/czOZiBMEa3
As has documentary producer Laurence Topham.
Merry Christmas from Antarctica! @alokjha and I are currently stuck in ice awaiting rescue by a Chinese icebreaker!
Laurence Topham
@loztopham
Merry Christmas from Antarctica! @alokjha and I are currently stuck in ice awaiting rescue by a Chinese icebreaker!
Everybody seems to be pretty cool with their current situation.
Stuck in ice. All well. Relief expt'd 30 hrs. Science continuing. #spiritofmawson
Chris Turney
@ProfChrisTurney
Stuck in ice. All well. Relief expt'd 30 hrs. Science continuing. #spiritofmawson
I mean, they're surrounded by penguins so that certainly helps.
Adelie penguins come to check out what's going on! #spiritofmawson
Chris Turney
@ProfChrisTurney
Adelie penguins come to check out what's going on! #spiritofmawson
Antarctic Adelie penguins having a nice lie-down
Alok Jha
@alokjha
Antarctic Adelie penguins having a nice lie-down
A second blizzard rolled in after the ship got stuck, inspiring this truly excellent Vine starring Turney and Jha of the gentlemen.
Shokalskiy this am in sea ice. All well. Blizzard passed. #spiritofmawson
Chris Turney
@ProfChrisTurney
Shokalskiy this am in sea ice. All well. Blizzard passed. #spiritofmawson
After inspecting the vessel to make sure everything was shipshape after the second blizzard, the researchers got back to work.
Expedition leader Greg Mortimer inspects the bow of the Akademik Shokalskiy from the ice @GdnAntarctica
Laurence Topham
@loztopham
Expedition leader Greg Mortimer inspects the bow of the Akademik Shokalskiy from the ice @GdnAntarctica
SCIENCE.
MORE SCIENCE.
The view from the front of the Shokalkskiy. Lots and lots of ice. It's the sand out back.
Alok Jha
@alokjha
The view from the front of the Shokalkskiy. Lots and lots of ice. It's the sand out back.
He's been posting updates about the icebreaker that's currently en route to help free the ship.
Good news. Sounds like the Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon is just 25 miles away. Hope to see it in a couple of hours! #spiritofmawson
Chris Turney
@ProfChrisTurney
Good news. Sounds like the Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon is just 25 miles away. Hope to see it in a couple of hours! #spiritofmawson
Great news. Icebreaker Snow Dragon on horizon with penguins! Everyone very happy! #spiritofmawson
Chris Turney
@ProfChrisTurney
Great news. Icebreaker Snow Dragon on horizon with penguins! Everyone very happy! #spiritofmawson
He even made a delightful Vine to announce that they'd sighted the rescue ship!
Everyone aboard the ship seemed quite pleased to see the icebreaker on the horizon.
Update - 3:30 p.m. ET: Jha has tweeted that the Chinese icebreaker Xue Long was forced to turn back. They are now awaiting the arrival of an Australian icebreaker.
Our rescue boat, the Xue Long, has had to turn back because the ice was too thick for it to get through. We're now awaiting Aurora Australis
Alok Jha
@alokjha
Our rescue boat, the Xue Long, has had to turn back because the ice was too thick for it to get through. We're now awaiting Aurora Australis