Don’t miss the latest developments in business and finance.

Aus navy intercepts boat carrying 164 asylum seekers

Image
Press Trust of India Melbourne
Last Updated : Jan 20 2013 | 3:24 AM IST

Navy patrol boat HMAS Glenelg intercepted the vessel north-west of Christmas Island today, AAP news agency reported.

"Initial indications suggest there are 164 passengers and six crew on board," Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said in a statement.

The passengers will now be transferred to Christmas Island for security, health and identity checks, the report said.

The boat is the largest since February 2010, when a vessel with 185 people arrived in Australian waters.

Today's interception was the third this week and brings the total arrivals in April to 914 asylum-seekers and 29 crew.

It is the largest monthly asylum-seeker tally since August 2001, when 1645 passengers and crew sailed into Australian waters.

This year a total of 2173 asylum-seekers and 67 crew have arrived on 30 boats - almost double the arrivals over the same period last year.

  

More From This Section

First Published: Apr 29 2012 | 1:45 PM IST

Next Story