Over 50 suspected asylum seekers rescued at sea
- 12 years ago
One person has died and over 50 rescued after a boat carrying suspected asylum seekers went missing en route to Australia.
Fifty-five refugees were handed over to the Indonesian authorities, along with a body recovered in the rescue operation.
The boat, thought to be carrying around 140 people, went missing after reporting engine trouble on Wednesday (August 29).
Survivors were pulled from the water a day later by a passing ship.
SOUNDBITE: UNIDENTIFIED SURVIVOR SAYING (English):
"For three days we were on a boat. After three days the boat broke. Four days we were in the water inside. Without boat, without life jacket, without everything. God is so great that we are still alive right now."
After being treated by medical teams, the refugees were taken to an Indonesian port for processing.
The authorities say dangerously overcrowded boats are often used to transport asylum seekers hoping to reach Australian territory.
Fifty-five refugees were handed over to the Indonesian authorities, along with a body recovered in the rescue operation.
The boat, thought to be carrying around 140 people, went missing after reporting engine trouble on Wednesday (August 29).
Survivors were pulled from the water a day later by a passing ship.
SOUNDBITE: UNIDENTIFIED SURVIVOR SAYING (English):
"For three days we were on a boat. After three days the boat broke. Four days we were in the water inside. Without boat, without life jacket, without everything. God is so great that we are still alive right now."
After being treated by medical teams, the refugees were taken to an Indonesian port for processing.
The authorities say dangerously overcrowded boats are often used to transport asylum seekers hoping to reach Australian territory.