DHAKA: Officials on Thursday confirmed that all passengers on board an icebound Russian ship have been successfully evacuated after spending more than a week waiting for rescue teams to reach them in the Antarctic.

The 52 scientists and tourists were airlifted by a helicopter belonging to a Chinese icebreaker and brought on to an Australian supply ship.

‘Aurora Australis has advised AMSA that the 52 passengers from the Akademik Shokalskiy are now on board,’ the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which oversaw the rescue, said, reports france24.com.

Passengers were airlifted from a makeshift landing pad on the ice beside the Russian ship to an ice floe near the Australis.

Expedition leader Chris Turney expressed relief that the wait was finally over.

‘We’ve made it to the Aurora Australis safe and sound. A huge thanks to the Chinese and the (government`s) Australian Antarctic Division for all their hard work,’ Turney tweeted.

BDST: 2000 HRS, JAN 02, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor