Australia vessels aid asylum boat

09:15 04/07/2012 » Society

Australia vessels aid asylum boat

An Australian navy vessel has reached a boat that issued a distress call in waters off Indonesia, BBC reported.

Officials said bad weather meant they could not board the ship but said the crew were monitoring the situation.

The boat, said to be carrying 130-180 people, called for help as it sailed between Indonesia and Christmas Island.

It comes a day after leaders of the two countries pledged better co-operation on people-smuggling, after two asylum-seeker boats sank last month.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said a commercial vessel was also on scene and another navy ship was heading to the area.

"Due to adverse weather conditions it is not safe for HMAS Wollongong to attempt to board the vessel in order to confirm the nature of the distress," the AMSA said in a statement.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare told Australian media that the boat had reported it was taking on water.

Christmas Island, which lies off Australia's north-west coast, is closer to Indonesia than Australia. It is targeted by asylum-seekers hoping to get to Australia who usually sail on over-crowded, poorly-maintained boats.

 

Source: Panorama.am

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