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Migrant boat capsizes off Australia's Christmas Island Migrant boat capsizes off Australia's Christmas Island
(about 7 hours later)
A boat carrying about 150 suspected asylum seekers has capsized off Australia's Christmas Island with several casualties reported. A boat carrying about 150 suspected asylum seekers has capsized off Australia's Christmas Island, with four people confirmed dead.
The Australian border agency said four bodies had been found and 144 survivors had been picked up by navy ships, 70 nautical miles (130km) from the shore. The Customs and Border Protection Service said two naval vessels had rescued 144 people from the water.
Christmas island is located about 1,600 miles north-west off the mainland. The vessels were escorting the boat to a detention centre on Christmas Island but the ship overturned in rough seas.
Many asylum seekers try to reach the island, hoping then to move on to the Australian mainland.
Christmas Island is located about 1,600 miles (2,575km) north-west of the mainland.
Life rafts
Customs said it had now suspended rescue efforts as there was no further sign of life.
The naval vessels had tried to board the boat earlier in the day but the poor weather prevented the attempt.
The boat then overturned 70 nautical miles from Christmas Island.
Customs said in a statement: "HMAS Warramunga rescued 76 people from the water and HMAS Albany rescued 68 people from the water. Tragically, four deceased persons were recovered."
A Royal Australian Air Force plane dropped a number of life rafts to those in the water.
Several boats carrying migrants heading for Australia have disappeared in recent months.Several boats carrying migrants heading for Australia have disappeared in recent months.
After making a distress call, the boat was picked up and escorted by one of two navy ships carrying out the rescue.
However, it tipped over in bad weather on its way to Christmas Island, with a large number of people entering the water.
A Royal Australian Air Force plane deployed a number of life-rafts, and the two ships were able to pull 144 migrants alive from the water.
In a separate incident on Saturday, 88 asylum seekers were rescued after their boat sank off the same island.In a separate incident on Saturday, 88 asylum seekers were rescued after their boat sank off the same island.
A baby boy died in the accident and eight people went missing, presumed dead. The boat, which set off from Indonesia, was reportedly carrying asylum seekers from Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.A baby boy died in the accident and eight people went missing, presumed dead. The boat, which set off from Indonesia, was reportedly carrying asylum seekers from Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Christmas Island is the closest area of Australian territory to Indonesia. Many asylum seekers try to reach it hoping to move on to the mainland.