Up to 30 die in asylum boat crash

As many as 30 suspected asylum seekers are feared dead after their boat smashed
against jagged rocks on Christmas Island, off the north-west coast of Australia.
Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan confirmed bodies had been pulled from the rough
seas following the "tragic" accident.
"A people smuggler's boat has crashed into the rocks. A number of people have been
rescued, but sadly some bodies have been retrieved," he told reporters in Sydney.
"It is very difficult weather, very difficult conditions."
The boat, reportedly carrying up to 70 asylum seekers including women and children,
struck the cliffs of Christmas Island around 6.30am local time on Wednesday.
Three injured asylum seekers will be airlifted to Perth after suffering head and
abdominal injuries in the tragedy.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service said two medical teams were being sent to Christmas
Island in a jet expected to leave Perth airport at 1pm (WST) in spite of bad
weather.
Mr Swan wouldn't say how many asylum seekers were involved in the crash but there
are reports of around 40 survivors.
"It will be some time before we have a clear picture of all of these events and the
consequences of these events," he said.
However, Mr Swan was tight-lipped when asked about the federal government's asylum
seeker policy. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced she will return from her
holidays on Wednesday night to deal with the incident.
Christmas Island dive shop operator Simon Prince told Sky News that he saw about
eight people dead in the water.
"There were dead children in the water; there was one very small child with a
life-jacket on, floating face down for a very long time, clearly dead," he said.
"There were dead men, I can't tell you definitely there were dead women but people
die in those conditions."
Mr Prince said it was "impossible" for people to come ashore at the razor-sharp
cliffs their boat approached in high seas.
"At the moment we've got a cyclone to the north of us, the sea is being whipped up
into an absolute frenzy of power," he said.
"Just to touch (the cliffs) is to cut yourself, let alone get hurled against them.
People were getting crushed against the (cliffs), it was really, really horrible."
Mr Prince said he and other locals threw life-jackets into the water, while
Australian Federal Police, Navy and Customs officials were helping in the rescue
effort as well.
West Australian police may also send a forensic team to Christmas Island to help
identify the dead.
Amnesty International Australia spokesman Andrew Beswick said the only way to stop
asylum seekers risking their lives in dangerous sea voyages was to give them an
alternative.
"This includes increasing the capacity and willingness of countries across the Asia
Pacific to protect refugees."
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the tragedy off Christmas
Island was a "realisation of our worst fears".
"The lives of the men, women and children on these boats are as precious as our own
and we mourn their loss," he said.
"Today is a day for sadness, not for policy discussion and analysis.
"Today is a day to focus on those who remain at risk, particularly as the rescue and
recovery operation continues."