Triste despedida

Sylvia Colombo

É impactante ver o “continente branco” surgir diante de nossa vista, quando o avião inicia o processo de aterrissagem na Antártida. Nessa época do ano, do “verão” antártico, nem toda a terra está coberta por neve. Ainda assim, o gelo predomina. Com o sol fortíssimo nessa região, os olhos sentem. E óculos escuros são mais do que recomendáveis.

Infelizmente estive ali por um triste motivo. Na madrugada do último sábado, a base militar brasileira Comandante Ferraz foi praticamente destruída por um incêndio, que começou num dos geradores de energia. Estavam nela militares da marinha, técnicos e servidores, e cientistas de diversas áreas, que passam alguns meses por ano lá para fazer pesquisas.

De acordo com os relatos, o fogo começou no início da madrugada, ainda sem razões esclarecidas. Enquanto muitos dormiam, alguns conversavam num centro de convivência, e um grupo saiu para observar o céu do lado de fora. Foi quando percebeu-se o fogo. Os militares rapidamente isolaram os civis e tentaram conter o incêndio, que só aumentava devido ao vento. A situação foi ficando desesperadora. A água das mangueiras congelava antes mesmo de respingar para fora. Um dos oficiais chegou a entrou no mar ultragelado para tentar bombear água dali. Teve um princípio de hipotermia.

Dois deles tentaram fechar uma válvula de um gerador para que a situação não se agravasse, mas desorientaram-se por causa da fumaça e se perderam. Foram as vítimas fatais da tragédia.

Corpos de brasileiros mortos são embarcados

O restante foi socorrido pelas equipes de outras bases, principalmente da polonesa e da chilena, e levados para a base Eduardo Frei. Dali, parte foi transportada para Punta Arenas, e depois para o Rio de Janeiro.

Permaneceram em Frei, a base chilena, doze oficiais da Marinha. Foi esse o grupo que encontrei, dois dias depois da tragédia, quando aterrissei com o Hércules da Força Aérea Brasileira.

São homens grandes, fortes, com ares de experimentados. Suas expressões faciais, porém, mostravam um desconcerto e uma tristeza muito grandes. Muitos tinham lágrimas nos olhos, inclusive o capitão, Fernando Coimbra, que respondeu às perguntas dos jornalistas que estavam ali.

Na cerimônia de embarque dos corpos, carregaram os caixões cobertos pela bandeira brasileira ao longo da pista gelada para dentro do avião.

Homenagem aos brasileiros mortos na base Comandante Ferraz
O capitão Fernando Coimbra e o embaixador Frederico Araújo

Despediram-se com um grito de “adeus, amigos”, e voltaram para a base. No dia seguinte, sua missão continuaria, com o retorno à base abandonada para resgatar o que ainda fosse possível e começar a investigar as causas do incêndio e da morte dos dois colegas.

Nosso voo de volta de Eduardo Frei a Punta Arenas foi mais silencioso, militares, jornalistas e diplomatas mantinham ar mais circunspecto. Ao nosso lado, viajavam os dois caixões com os restos dos heróis que tentaram conter a tragédia.

O “continente branco” ia ficando para trás pela janela do Hércules, junto com as tantas perguntas sem resposta sobre as razões desse desastre.

(as fotos são de Carlos da Fonseca, do Ministério de Relações Exteriores)

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