Posted: Sep 30, 2005 10:48 am EDT
The three Chilean marines, who got trapped inside the snow-cat when the vehicle fell in a crevasse, have been found dead by the rescue team. The accident took place on Wednesday at Antarctic Peninsula.

There are no details yet on the cause of death – it is not clear if the marines died at the crash, or froze in the 48 hours passing until they were located.

Through the snow-cat roof

Four other people who were traveling at the rear cabin could be rescued alive by two other members of the group, who traveled in a skidoo some meters behind. However, no one could reach the driver’s cabin until last night, when a new rescue team used saws to cut the metal roof of the vehicle, stuck 40 meters deep inside the crevasse.

Casualties are Captain Enrique Encina, driver Fernando Burboa and communication mechanic Jorge Basualto. The bodies will be brought to O’Higgins base today, in order to organize their evacuation back to Chile.

Three Chilean army marines, Captain Enrique Encina Gallardo, and marines Fernando Barboa and Jorge Casualto were trapped in a crevasse, 17km away from O’Higgins base, at Chilean Antarctic territory at Antarctic Peninsula.

The Marines' vehicle, a snowcat, got trapped at a depth of about 40 meter, with seven people on board. However, two other military who where riding a skidoo behind them were able to call for help and save four of them from the rear cabin. Encina, Barboa and Casualto were trapped beyond reach in the driver’s cabin.

Since earlier this month Argentinean military forces are trying to locate Biologist Augusto Thibaud, and army marine Teófilo González both Argentineans, who fell in a crevasse at 25 of May (King George Island), located right by the Peninsula.

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