At least 13 people are dead after an asylum seeker boat capsized near Christmas Island.
Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says authorities are continuing to search for survivors 74 nautical miles west of the island.
Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Mr Clare said about 55 people were earlier seen on the deck of the vessel in waters off Western Australia's north coast.
He said they were mostly adult men, but included a small number of women and children.
Mr Clare also revealed Australian Federal Police (AFP) had received a call for assistance from a second boat last night, but HMAS Warramunga has been unable to locate the vessel.
The suspected asylum seeker boat reported engine troubles about 110 nautical miles north of Christmas Island last night and HMAS Warramunga was sent to its location. Asylum seeker boat sinking timeline (times in AEST)
Mr Clare says 13 bodies from the first boat have been located, but they are yet to be recovered from the water.
"This is another terrible tragedy. Another terrible reminder how dangerous these journeys [are]," Mr Clare said during a press conference.
"Let me take this opportunity to thank the men and women of Border Protection command for their bravery and for the dangerous work that they do."
Authorities first spotted the boat on Wednesday, Mr Clare confirmed.
"The vessel was stationary but did not appear to be in distress. The advice to me is that Australian authorities did not receive a distress call from this vessel," he said.
"HMAS Warramunga was tasked that evening to intercept the vessel."
However, the Navy ship was unable to find the boat.
On Friday, a submerged hull was sighted in the water 65 nautical miles north-west of Christmas Island.
HMAS Warramunga arrived at the location later that afternoon.
Mr Clare said the crew were unable to find the hull, but they did find debris, including pieces of wood and a number of life jackets.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) are involved in the massive air and sea search.
Two merchant ships are also involved, along with two Border Protection planes and a private aircraft.
HMAS Warramunga has been retasked to search for a second boat approximately 110 nautical miles north of Christmas Island.
Mr Clare said that vessel has not yet been located.
New boat arrivals
This afternoon, 78 asylum seekers rescued from a stricken vessel 500 nautical miles west of Cocos Island three days ago arrived at Christmas Island.
A British merchant vessel picked up the people after the boat ran into trouble.
Meanwhile, another asylum seeker boat was stopped north-west of Christmas Island on Saturday.
The boat was picked up with 130 passengers on board, who are being sent to the island for initial checks.
Another asylum seeker boat was intercepted off Christmas Island with 69 people on board on Friday.
Sunday 9 June 2013
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-09/search-continues-for-survivors-of-capsized-asylum-seeker-boat/4742300
0 comments:
Post a Comment