Updated: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 10:18:47 GMT | By Agence France-Presse

Up to 75 feared dead in Australia boat capsize: police

Australian police said Thursday that early reports suggested up to 75 asylum seekers had died after their boat capsized off remote Christmas Island en route from Sri Lanka.

Western Australia police commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said a "large number" of the 200 on board were feared to have perished.

"Some of the very early reports suggest that up to 75 people may have drowned, but I do stress that they are unconfirmed at this stage," O'Callaghan told reporters.

"There were about 200 refugees on board we think. Currently there's about 40 on the hull and the rest are in the water," he added.

O'Callaghan said police were "very concerned for a large number of people who may have drowned" as a result of the capsize, which occurred in Indonesian waters 120 nautical miles north of Australia's Christmas Island.

"We know from what we've been hearing from the aircraft that there's not 200 life jackets on board," he added.

O'Callaghan said it looked as though the operation "will have to go well into the night".

User Picture
Write a comment...
0Comments
Scroll upScroll down

Regional News

  • Australian killer of Irish woman jailed for life
    Australian killer of Irish woman jailed for life

    A serial sex offender was on Wednesday sentenced to life for the "savage" rape and murder of an Irish woman in a Melbourne street, a random killing which shocked the nation and led to an outpouring of emotion.

Top Stories

  • US, Jamaican sprinters look to Moscow
    US, Jamaican sprinters look to Moscow

    Sprint hierarchy could be established this week as the United States and Jamaica hold their trials for the athletics World Championships scheduled for Moscow August 10-18.