Iran General NewsDeath toll hits 11 in Indonesia boat sinking

Death toll hits 11 in Indonesia boat sinking

-

AP: Rescuers have recovered the bodies of two more asylum seekers who were aboard a boat that sank off Indonesia, bringing the death toll to 11, police said Thursday. The group was believed to consist of around 204 migrants from Sri Lanka, Iran and Iraq who were bound for Australia. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Rescuers have recovered the bodies of two more asylum seekers who were aboard a boat that sank off Indonesia, bringing the death toll to 11, police said Thursday.

The bodies of a 5-year-old Sri Lankan girl and a 30-year-old Iranian man were found near Karangpotong beach early Thursday, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of where their overcrowded tugboat sank Tuesday night off the coast of West Java, said Cianjur police spokesman Capt. Ahmad Suprijatna.

Nearly 190 survivors were brought to safety, and hundreds of rescuers and fishermen were continuing to search for others, he added.

Officials have said the group was believed to consist of around 204 migrants from Sri Lanka, Iran and Iraq who were bound for Australia. They left on a smaller boat that started leaking before meeting a larger ship at sea that was supposed to complete their journey.

The incident occurred less than a week after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd changed Australia’s refugee policy so that migrants who arrive by boat will no longer be allowed to settle in the country. Instead, they will be taken to the island nation of Papua New Guinea to be considered for resettlement there.

The sharp policy change, which has angered human rights groups, comes amid domestic political pressure following a string of deadly accidents involving rickety boats packed with asylum seekers who take the risky journey from Indonesia to Australia.

Latest news

Intense Rainfall and Floods Damage Dozens of Cities Across Iran

Heavy rainfall has again led to flooding in dozens of cities across Iran, damaging residential homes and agricultural lands....

Iran is the Second Largest Prison for Writers in the World

The 2023 Freedom to Write Index, released by PEN America, shows that Iran continues to be the world’s second-largest...

Iranian Proxies Still Planning Attacks on US Forces

On Thursday, May 2, Avril Haines, the director of the U.S. National Intelligence Agency, told a Senate Armed Services...

Growing Calls for the Terrorist Designation of the IRGC

On Monday, April 29, the Iranian regime’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, in a weekly press briefing, claimed that...

Iranian Merchants Facing 60% Decline in Sales Due to Presence of Morality Police

Discontent among merchants due to a 60% decrease in sales attributed to the presence of the morality police, exerting...

Dire Living Conditions of Iranian workers on International Labor Day

On the occasion of International Workers' Day, May 1, the dire economic conditions of Iranian workers have reached a...

Must read

U.S. enlists oil to sway Beijing’s stance on Tehran

Wall Street Journal: The Obama administration is encouraging key...

U.S. still opposes Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline

Reuters: The United States still opposes a natural gas...

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you