109 people have been rescued from a capsized boat north-west of Christmas Island according to the latest reports, but hope is fading for an estimated 90 asylum seekers still lost at sea.
The boat was thought to have been carrying over 200 men, with 109 having been rescued so far, including a 13-year-old boy. Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare stated that the chances of finding further survivors were "increasingly grim".
As rescue efforts by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) continue, SLBC Australia’s Sri Lankan High Commissioner Rear admiral Thisara Samarasinghe stated that no Sri Lankan nationals were on board the capsized boat.
His statement comes as Navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya said,
See our earlier post: Army boasts of increased militarisation (17 May 2012)
The Island however reported asylum seekers from Sri Lanka were amongst those feared dead (see here).
Faxes obtained by ABC between the Australian Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) and Indonesian agency BASARNAS confirm reports that the ship was thought to have originated from Sri Lanka. They also reveal that authorities knew about a vessel in distress as early as Sunday.
See more faxes between Australian and Indonesian authorities here.
Also see live coverage from ABC here.
The boat was thought to have been carrying over 200 men, with 109 having been rescued so far, including a 13-year-old boy. Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare stated that the chances of finding further survivors were "increasingly grim".
As rescue efforts by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) continue, SLBC Australia’s Sri Lankan High Commissioner Rear admiral Thisara Samarasinghe stated that no Sri Lankan nationals were on board the capsized boat.
His statement comes as Navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya said,
"There is no chance of that happening. We maintain tight security along our maritime boundary so no boat can slip through."Earlier this month Sri Lanka arrested 113 persons who were attempting to flee to Australia, and have stated they are conducting 24-hour coastal patrols, as well as doubling the number of naval camps.
See our earlier post: Army boasts of increased militarisation (17 May 2012)
The Island however reported asylum seekers from Sri Lanka were amongst those feared dead (see here).
Faxes obtained by ABC between the Australian Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) and Indonesian agency BASARNAS confirm reports that the ship was thought to have originated from Sri Lanka. They also reveal that authorities knew about a vessel in distress as early as Sunday.
See more faxes between Australian and Indonesian authorities here.
Also see live coverage from ABC here.
