Friday June 22, 2012

Search resumes for 100 missing in Indian Ocean (Updated)

SYDNEY: Merchant and navy ships and five aircraft resumed the search for almost 100 people missing in the Indian Ocean a day after a crowded refugee boat capsized between Indonesia and Australia's Christmas Island territory.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said 110 people had been rescued, including a 13-year-old boy, with three dead bodies pulled from the water, around 200 km north of Christmas Island.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard, attending the United Nations Rio summit in Brazil, said she had spoken to Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono about the tragedy.

"At this stage details are sketchy, but what is apparent is that there has been a large loss of life at sea," Gillard told reporters in Rio de Janeiro.

Asylum seekers are a hot political issue in Australia. So far this year, more than 50 boats carrying more than 4,000 asylum seekers have been detected by Australian authorities.

Refugees seeking asylum in Australia often set sail from Indonesia heading for Australia's Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island in dangerous and overcrowded boats, with the help of people smugglers.

In December 2011, as many as 200 died when an overcrowded boat sank off the coast of East Java in December, 2011. In 2010, 50 asylum seekers died when their boat was thrown onto rocks at Christmas Island. In 2001, a crowded boat known as the SIEV X sank on its way to Australia with the loss of 350 lives.

Earlier report:

Nearly 100 still missing in boat capsize near Australia

SYDNEY: Nearly 100 suspected asylum seekers are still missing a day after a boat capsized about 200 km north of Australia's Christmas Island, Australia's minister for home affairs said on Friday.

Jason Clare said four more ships and three aircraft were on the way to aid the search for survivors from the boat carrying an estimated 210 people. A number of Australian defence and civilian vessels are already in the area.

"We are still in the critical window where more lives can be saved. The advice I have is that the water temperature is about 29 degrees. People can survive for up to 36 hours if they have lifejackets or they have debris to hold onto," Clare said.

So far 110 people have been rescued and three bodies have been recovered, he said.

On Thursday Western, Australian police commissioner Karl O'Callaghan told local television that 75 people were feared drowned.

"A large number of survivors have been pulled from the water and are being taken on board a Defence vessel and a number of civilian vessels to Christmas Island," Australia's Customs and Border Protection said in a statement.

"Australian authorities on the Island are preparing to receive passengers from early this morning."

So far this year, more than 50 boats carrying more than 4,000 asylum seekers have been detected by Australian authorities.

As many as 200 died when an overcrowded boat sank off the coast of East Java in December, 2011. - Reuters

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Friday June 22, 2012

Search resumes for 100 missing in Indian Ocean (Updated)