Prime Minster Julia Gillard has warned more bodies are likely to be recovered after a boat carrying up to 100 asylum seekers sunk in treacherous seas off Christmas Island yesterday.
Ms Gillard said the death toll from the tragedy stood at 28 today, including a number of young people and children killed when their vessel pounded against limestone cliffs at Flying Fish Cove.
The passengers on the boat are believed to be of Iranian, Iraqi and Kurdish origin, she said.
"We do not know with any certainty how many people there were on the boat so we've got to prepare ourselves for the likelihood that more bodies will be found and that there has been further loss of life than we know now with the numbers available to us," Ms Gillard said.
"Yesterday we saw a truly horrific event, a terrible human tragedy on what is a very dangerous coastline at Christmas Island. I know the nation is shocked by what we have seen."
The Prime Minister, who last night cut short her holiday and returned to work to deal with the aftermath of the disaster, said Australia condemned the trade of people smuggling.
"It is an evil trade but I believe Australians are responding to these events today as human beings," she said.
She said a team of trauma counsellors, Red Cross carers, interpreters and immigration officials were on their way to Christmas Island to provide additional support to the victims.
A criminal investigation would be launched under people-smuggling laws.
Questions mounted today about how the boat managed to get so far, and into so much trouble, without being intercepted.
Ms Gillard said the first time border protection officials became aware of the vessel was when it was ‘‘clearly in distress and hard-up against the Christmas Island shoreline’’.
She said 42 passengers from the vessel had been rescued, although that number could change as numbers were clarified with officials on Christmas Island.
Ms Gillard paid tribute to the residents of Christmas Island and the rescue personnel who put their own lives at risk to save the 42 asylum seekers.
‘‘They were magnificent in these really difficult circumstances. They responded with great bravery and great compassion,’’ Ms Gillard said.
Read More
http://www.smh.com.au/national/more-bodies-likely-to-be-recovered-from-asylum-boat-gillard-20101216-18z1d.html
Ms Gillard said the death toll from the tragedy stood at 28 today, including a number of young people and children killed when their vessel pounded against limestone cliffs at Flying Fish Cove.
The passengers on the boat are believed to be of Iranian, Iraqi and Kurdish origin, she said.
"We do not know with any certainty how many people there were on the boat so we've got to prepare ourselves for the likelihood that more bodies will be found and that there has been further loss of life than we know now with the numbers available to us," Ms Gillard said.
"Yesterday we saw a truly horrific event, a terrible human tragedy on what is a very dangerous coastline at Christmas Island. I know the nation is shocked by what we have seen."
The Prime Minister, who last night cut short her holiday and returned to work to deal with the aftermath of the disaster, said Australia condemned the trade of people smuggling.
"It is an evil trade but I believe Australians are responding to these events today as human beings," she said.
She said a team of trauma counsellors, Red Cross carers, interpreters and immigration officials were on their way to Christmas Island to provide additional support to the victims.
A criminal investigation would be launched under people-smuggling laws.
Questions mounted today about how the boat managed to get so far, and into so much trouble, without being intercepted.
Ms Gillard said the first time border protection officials became aware of the vessel was when it was ‘‘clearly in distress and hard-up against the Christmas Island shoreline’’.
She said 42 passengers from the vessel had been rescued, although that number could change as numbers were clarified with officials on Christmas Island.
Ms Gillard paid tribute to the residents of Christmas Island and the rescue personnel who put their own lives at risk to save the 42 asylum seekers.
‘‘They were magnificent in these really difficult circumstances. They responded with great bravery and great compassion,’’ Ms Gillard said.
Read More
http://www.smh.com.au/national/more-bodies-likely-to-be-recovered-from-asylum-boat-gillard-20101216-18z1d.html
No comments:
Post a Comment