Brazil inaugurates rebuilt Antarctic research base

Brazilian officials inaugurated the country's new Antarctica scientific base on King George Island on Wednesday, nearly eight years after a deadly fire destroyed most of the previous compound.

The Brazilian government invested 100 million US dollars in the reconstruction of the base, with facilities that can host 64 people and 17 labs for research.

The project is entirely Brazilian and was built by China Electronics Import and Export Corporation, which won a contract with the government.

The station was reconstructed after a huge fire in 2012 destroyed 70% of the original stations facilities, built in 1984.

Brazilian scientists will be focusing their research on climate change, geology and biotechnology.