General

27 dead in Christmas Island tragedy

A boat carrying asylum seekers sinks off Australia

A boat carrying asylum seekers sank off Christmas Island this morning, killing 27 people. Of the some 70 people on board, 41 have been rescued, while another man made it to shore by himself. Rescuers plan to continue the search for further bodies. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced she will put her holiday on hold and go back to work to oversee the disaster. “This has been a tragic event, and it will be some time before there is a full picture of what has happened,” she said.

Sydney Morning Herald

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