More bodies likely to be recovered from asylum boat, Gillard

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.


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Dozens feared dead in Christmas Island asylum-seeker boat crash

WITNESSES on Christmas Island have told of a "major tragedy" after an asylum-seeker boat crashed into cliffs this morning, with many feared dead.

Government sources told The Australian Online they believed about 70 people were aboard the boat.

Sky News reported that 41 had been confirmed rescued so far but the rest were unaccounted for.

It is understood that most of those on board were Iranians and Iraqis.

Locals have told The Australian that the boat came into local waters some time this morning without being detected by authorities.

But it was smashed into rocks in heavy seas at about 6am near Flying Fish Cove.

Witnesses said people were being washed up on the jagged cliffs near the island’s old hospital and police station.

Local electrician Michael Foster described the surging water at the bottom of the cliffs as being like the inside of a washing machine.

He speculated the boat may have lost power as it approached Flying Fish Cove, at the northern end of the island, in the pre-dawn light - with rough seas then smashing the vessel against the jagged cliff face.

"I would suggest I saw about 30 [people] who didn't make it," he said. "The mood on the island is a bit disarrayed - there are people who have never seen a body before."

Witness Phillip Stewart told Sky News that he saw the boat being dashed by waves and that while some people survived he believed up to 50 people had died.

Locals have told The Australian that the boat came into local waters some time this morning without being detected by authorities.

Dramatic pictures show the vessel, with women and children on board, being picked up by the waves and smashed into cliffs near Flying Fish Cove earlier today.

Navy ribs were used to pick up some survivors from the heavy seas after the vessel broke up.

The Australian Federal Police have released a statement on the boat crash, revealing that they are responding to a “maritime incident involving a suspected illegal entry vessel on Christmas Island”.

One local resident who lives nearby, but who did not want to be named, said she heard screams at 6am and went down to the cliffs where she saw people hanging on to the boat as it was being pushed towards the cliff in huge seas.

"It almost tipped,” the woman said. “One woman was holding a small child.” The boat broke up soon after that, she said.

Phone calls went out around the island and hundreds of people went to the cliffs, throwing life jackets, ropes and anything else that floated out to the asylum-seekers.

Teacher Robyn Stephenson said it was impossible to swim to swim to shore there.

“They were being washed into the cliffs, the really sharp cliffs,” Ms Stephenson said.

“There were phone calls all around to people to get down and help. As soon as the people in the water saw the people on the cliffs they started trying to get into the cliffs and the people on the land were saying move out because three’s huge waves at the moment.”

Local resident Allison Millcock said she arrived at the cliffs at 8am, by which time she could only see wood chips floating in the water. “I’ve been told the refugees got into trouble around 6am . At around 8am there were only woodchips in water. I’m told about 20 were rescued. It’s only rough number."

A contractor with the council, manning a roadblock, said only federal police, hospital staff other emergency personnel and staff from security contractor Serco were being allowed down to the scene.

He said the navy was trying to bring survivors 6km around the other side of the island to calmer waters at Lilly Beach.

Pamela Curr, campaign coordinator at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, told The Australian Online she had received a text message from someone on the island saying that at least 30 people had been saved.

She said she was informed that people had been in the water since early this morning in 3m swell.

“What happened that they allowed this boat to come in the rough seas?” she asked. “We need answers.”

Mr Stewart told Sky that waves of 4-5 metres were washing over the steep limestone cliffs today. It is the height of storm season for the area off Australia's northwest coast.

"They were in a surge zone," he said, "one of the most dangerous places to be.”

He said many people were being struck by flotsam and jetsam.

Christmas Island shire president Gordon Thomson told The West Australian he understood it was a “very bad situation” but he was unclear of the details.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison told The Australian Online: “If this is indeed true it highlights once again how very dangerous this business is of people coming by boat and why it is so important again that we do everything possible to ensure that these boats don’t come in this way.

“It’s extremely important that the government make a statement at the earliest opportunity to confirm what has taken place. Because I mean naturally there’ll be all sorts of unofficial reports.

“I think it’s important that some clarity is given to the events as soon as possible. This is a very upsetting event and potentially a very significant tragedy.”

The AFP has stressed that its response is ongoing and its priority is to ensure the safety of “all involved” in the incident.

“The AFP and partner government agencies on Christmas Island are coordinating the immediate response to this incident”.

It will release a more detailed statement shortly.

A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection issued a brief statement a short time ago.

“There is an ongoing situation which involves a rescue of people off Christmas Island. Our paramount priority is the safety of all involved. A further statement will be provided later in the day,” he said.

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