Refugee boat with 95 people capsizes off Australia

PanARMENIAN.Net - Two people are dead and two more critically injured after an asylum-seeker vessel carrying at least 95 people capsized off Christmas Island, The Australian reported.

Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare said the Customs vessel Ocean Protector went to the aid of the asylum-seeker boat and had taken survivors to Christmas Island, where the injured would be treated in hospital.

“Initial reports indicate 95 people have been recovered from the water including two deceased persons and two critically injured persons,” he said in a statement.

He said an air and sea search was continuing, although it was not clear if anyone was still missing.

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) spokeswoman said the boat overturned 14 nautical miles north of Christmas Island at 11.20am (AEDT).

Christmas Island Administrator Jon Stanhope told the ABC that Customs and Border Protection had been aware that the vessel was approaching the island.

“The Ocean Protector was approaching the scene at the time the boat capsized. I think it's a very fortunate coincidence that Customs were within the vicinity, and were able to respond very quickly. My understanding is that all of the asylum seekers were in the water when the Ocean Protector arrived.”

The nationalities of those on board was not known.

The capsize follows a recent spike in the number of asylum-seeker vessels, with at least four vessels taken to Christmas Island between Saturday evening and Sunday morning - one carrying 128 people.

There has been a lull in boat arrivals in recent months due to heavy swells and poor weather, but the numbers arriving are picking up again.

Hundreds have died making the treacherous journey over the past few years.

Earlier this month, a naval vessel plucked 77 asylum-seekers to safety after their boat broke up on the way to Australia.