Distressed Asylum Boat off Christmas Island

Maritime Rescue Mounted for Distressed Asylum Boat off Christmas Island

A maritime rescue mission is underway off Christmas Island after messages were received this (Saturday) afternoon from a boat of asylum seekers in the vicinity of Christmas Island.

Around 1.45pm, EST, Tamil community and refugee activists received distressed messages from the boat and alerted maritime rescue and border protection authorities. From the GPS co-ordinates given the boat seems to be south-west of Christmas Island.

It is believed the boat is carrying 45 Tamils asylum seekers and has come directly from Sri Lanka.

One person from the boat told Refugee Action Coalition spokesperson, Ian Rintoul, that they had been at sea since 20 January, and but now the boat had no engine power and was drifting. He was also told that people on the boat had been without food or water for the last four days. "There are many sick people. Please help us. I don’t know how long people can last," he was told.

Maritime rescue authorities estimate they will reach the boat around 2.00pm Christmas Island time.

ENDS

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