Half of French territory in Indian Ocean burnt by wildfire

For almost a month, the French territory of Amsterdam on the South Indian Ocean was covered by flames.

Located around halfway between Australia, Antarctica and Madagascar, the island noticed how more than 55% of the area of ​​54 square km was burning.

There is no permanent population in Amsterdam on the island, but the researchers have been stationed there since the 1980s.

Ever since the fires began, 31 people have been evacuated to Reunion Island, closer to Madagascar. And last week, the French authorities launched a fire control mission and evaluate their influence.

The last flame was discovered on January 15 by a scientist who studies the atmosphere.

According to the report on the climate and environmental sciences (LCES), it broke out near the Puinto -Benedict Observatory that monitors greenhouse gases, mercury and aerosols in the atmosphere.

Despite all the efforts of the residents, the fire spread to the Martin de Vivia research base. The next day they were evacuated on the fishing boat of lobster, Australia, which was spinning nearby.

Rami Chazot, a computer based on the island, told the Le Monde newspaper that the group “incredibly lucky” was that the boat was in the area.

“This boat had to leave a week earlier, but it did not catch its lobster quota. Otherwise, everything would be complicated.”

Since then, the evacuated were translated into reunion, another French territory.

The fire spread to the island of Amsterdam from the dry conditions and high wind. There is no river on the island, and the wind can reach up to 40 km/h (24 mph). It is believed that it is partly distributed through the peat bogs.

Despite the fact that the complete scale of the damage is not yet estimated, satellite shots have shown that solar panels on the island affected both the fire, as well as its food and communication lines.

Environmentalists also expressed concern about the impact on the wild.

Due to its unusual climate, the island is rich in biodiversity, it serves as a breeding site for the southern elephant and sub-antorctic fur.

It lives several types of albatross, including Amsterdam Albatross, which multiplies exclusively on the island, and 84% of the population in the albatross yellow nose. Penguin’s Southern Rock Operation Colony also lives on the island.

Due to its distance and subsequent lack of pollution, the island is also used to study the changes in the atmosphere and how it affects the climate.

Evacuation is the first atmospheric study suspended on the island for 45 years.

“It will take time and money to return to normal, and this pause will mean a rather lack of data collection for our study,” said Mark Delot, Director of the LCES mission in the Amsterdam Islands.

“Of course, this is not good news for such a unique place.”

On February 7, the intelligence mission rose on board the French military ship.

According to the department of the southern and Antarctic territories of France, the mission consists of four firefighters from the reunification and seven technical staff, one of which is a doctor.

Instead of completely releasing the fire, the mission intends to ensure the settlement. They will also strive to reveal the cause of the fire and how it spreads, as well as restore the energy and water network.