Nov. 3 (Bloomberg) – A dozen asylum seekers may have drowned when their boat capsized in heavy seas as they attempted to sail directly from Sri Lanka and avoid Indonesian waters, the Australian newspaper reported.
At least one person has been confirmed dead with “grave fears” for another 11, the newspaper said, citing Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor.
The boat carrying 39 people sank 648 kilometers (403 miles) northwest of the Cocos Island late on Sunday night following a series of distress calls to Australian authorities, the newspaper reported.
Source: Bloomberg