123 rescued after asylum-seeker boat capsizes en route to Australia

By Jahanzaib Bin Liaquat

Correspondent, SAM Daily Times

SYDNEY —Rescuers plucked 123 people from the ocean Wednesday after an asylum-seeker boat sank en route to Australia, a week after another vessel went down in the same area, killing up to 90.

Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman said. “As we speak that 123 people have been rescued”

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said between 123 and 133 people were on board, revised down from earlier estimates of 150.

The incident comes just days after another boat with around 200 people on board went down in the Indian Ocean as it made its way to Australia.

Rescuers managed to save 110 people and 17 bodies were recovered from Thursday’s capsize, but no other survivors have been found. AMSA said two Australian navy ships and a spotter aircraft capable of dropping liferaft were also helping with the rescue effort in conditions described as “fair, not ideal”.