A boat, carrying about 150suspected asylum seekers, capsized off Australia’s Christmas Island, leading to four deaths.
A boat, carrying about 150 suspected asylum seeke
rs, capsized off Australia's Christmas Island, leading to four deaths.
"Two naval vessels had rescued 144 people from the water after the capsize on Tuesday," border authorities said.
The vessels were dragging the boat to a detention centre on Christmas Island but the ship overturned in rough seas.
Many asylum seekers attempt to reach the island, hoping then to move on to the Australian mainland.
Christmas Island, located about 1,600 miles (2,575km) north-west of the mainland, is the closest part of Australia to Indonesia.
Thousands of asylum seekers try to reach Australia by boat every year.
