Rough seas were apparently a key factor in the deadly crash of a boat againstthe shore of Christmas Island on Wednesday.Reports say a 130-foot fishing boat carrying asylum seekers, that set out fromIndonesia, was smashed against rocks near Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island.
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December 15, 2010 at 8:26PM
At the time, waves of 10 to 15 feet (about 3 to 4.5 meters), heaped up bynorthwesterly winds of 20 to 25 knots (about 35 to 45 km/h), were roiling openwaters off Christmas Island. These waves were apparently pounding the rockyshore at Flying Fish Cove, on the north side of the island.
Boat ferrying asylum seekersapproaches rocky shore of Christmas Island, south of Java, Indonesia (APphoto)The Australian Deputy Prime Minister, Wayne Swan, said that at least 27 bodieshad been recovered, and 41 rescued, while warning that the death toll couldrise further. Estimates put the number of asylum seekers on board at about 80.
Television footage showed the boat adrift before being dashed against sharprocks by high waves.
Local witnesses tell of seeing people in the water crying for help but beingunable to reach them due to the steep rocks and rough waters, described by onerescue official as "like a whirlpool or washing machine".
Asylum seekers, mostly from Asia, are drawn to the Australian-held ChristmasIsland by the relatively short sailing distance from the populous island ofJava, Indonesia.
It is less than 450 miles (about 700 km) across the eastern Indian Ocean fromwestern Java to Christmas Island, which lies more than 1,600 miles (about 2,600km) north-northwest of Perth.
Deadly incidents involving boats headed for Christmas Island also happened in2001 and 2009.
Story by Jim Andrews, AccuWeather.com Senior Forecaster
