South Shetland Islands

The first group of 15 polar explorers from the 30th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition is already aboard the Chilean warship Janequeo after a ten-day quarantine in the Chilean port of Punta Arenas, said the head of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute Prof. Hristo Pimpirev.

Six Bulgarian Antarctic researchers were collected by the ship "Lautaro" from the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island in the South Shetlands, the leader of the expedition, Prof. Hristo Pimpirev, reported on Thursday, quoted by the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute in a press release.

The second group of the 27th National Antarctic Expedition is leaving tonight the country, reported the Bulgarian National Television.

The group will be led by  Hristo Pimpirev and will travel from Sofia via Santiago de Chile to Punta Arenas.

"Bulgarian scientists, supported by the state, recognized the immense importance of Antarctica decades ago," said President Rumen Radev in his address to the members of the 26th Bulgarian Antarctic expedition days before the researchers left for the Bulgarian St. Kliment Ohridski Researchers' center on the Livingston Island.