Customs officials confirmed that 42 people had survived the brutal accident but added that "tragically, initial reports are that 27 bodies have also been recovered", as the search continued into the night.
At least 27 asylum seekers have drawn on Wednesday after their boat crashed into rocks on Western Australia's Christmas Island, with fears as many as 50 could have perished.
Customs officials confirmed that 42 people had survived the brutal accident but added that "tragically, initial reports are that 27 bodies have also been recovered", as the search continued into the night.
Medics have warned there could be as many as 50 deaths among the group, thought to be from Iraq and Iran.
Christmas Island residents looked on the incident in horror, with some witnesses said the atmosphere on the island was one of “complete shock “.
"What I saw was a boat filled with people and kids, when I was down there the boat was still intact," local councilor Kamar Ismail told AFP news agency.
"Then the waves came in and the boat crashed onto the rocks and smashed the boat and people were drifting around."
Ismail said locals had tried their best to pull survivors from the water "but we can't do much because the sea was very, very rough
Australian Customs and police confirmed that a suspected asylum seeker boat had been involved in an accident off Christmas Island and that a rescue was under way.
"Our paramount priority is the safety of all involved," Customs said in a brief statement.
The nationalities of those on the wooden fishing vessel are unknown but thousands of asylum seekers from Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have made their way to Australia this year on often rickety boats which depart from Indonesia.
Customs officials confirmed that 42 people had survived the brutal accident but added that "tragically, initial reports are that 27 bodies have also been recovered", as the search continued into the night.
Medics have warned there could be as many as 50 deaths among the group, thought to be from Iraq and Iran.
Christmas Island residents looked on the incident in horror, with some witnesses said the atmosphere on the island was one of “complete shock “.
"What I saw was a boat filled with people and kids, when I was down there the boat was still intact," local councilor Kamar Ismail told AFP news agency.
"Then the waves came in and the boat crashed onto the rocks and smashed the boat and people were drifting around."
Ismail said locals had tried their best to pull survivors from the water "but we can't do much because the sea was very, very rough
Australian Customs and police confirmed that a suspected asylum seeker boat had been involved in an accident off Christmas Island and that a rescue was under way.
"Our paramount priority is the safety of all involved," Customs said in a brief statement.
The nationalities of those on the wooden fishing vessel are unknown but thousands of asylum seekers from Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have made their way to Australia this year on often rickety boats which depart from Indonesia.
