17/07/2013 16:18
Four dead after boat capsizes near Australia
Turbulent waters north of Christmas Island near Australia caused a boat carrying asylum-seekers to capsize Tuesday night leaving four passengers dead, CNN reported, citing Australian Customs and Border Protection.
Approximately 150 were on board the vessel, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
A Royal Australian Air Force plane and an operation by the Australian navy rescued 144 people about 70 nautical miles off the island. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Rescue Coordination Centre coordinated efforts to gather passengers to safety. It was not clear whether other passengers were missing, or where they were from.
Other vessels were radioed and assisted in rescue efforts until around 9:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m. ET) when the search was discontinued, said the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service in a news release, which referred to the passengers as "asylum seekers."
Prior to the capsizing, the boat requested help from the Australian patrol vessel HMAS Albany, but bad weather would not allow a boarding.
When the Albany finally arrived along with HMAS Warramunga, they headed back to land not long before the boat tipped over, causing people on board to catapult into sea.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority originally stated that 180 people were on board, but provided a smaller number later in the day.