UNHCR saddened at loss of life as boat breaks up on Christmas Island
© AP Photo/ABC People clamber on the rocky shore on Christmas Island during a rescue attempt as the boat carrying suspected asylum-seekers breaks up in the background earlier today.
GENEVA, December 15 (UNHCR) – The UN refugee agency expressed deep shock and sorrow at the tragic loss of life on Wednesday after a vessel thought to be carrying asylum-seekers foundered on the coast of Australia's Christmas Island.
News reports said at least 27 people died, including children, when the vessel crashed into rocks in very rough seas. A further 42 were rescued, some with serious injuries. The passengers were believed to be Iranians and Iraqis.
Australia has an immigration centre on remote Christmas Island and this currently houses nearly 3,000 asylum-seekers.
UNHCR's chief spokesperson, Melissa Fleming, mourned the deaths. "We believe that far too many people are tragically losing their lives as they take desperate measures to escape conflict, persecution and poverty," she added in a press statement.
Fleming said UNHCR acknowledged that the movement of tens of thousands of migrants and asylum-seekers tested the capacity of countries on the shores of the Asia-Pacific, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean or the Gulf of Aden. "By the same token, many people coming by boat to these regions are found to be refugees," she said.
Christmas Island (coloured yellow-top LH corner)
A boat travelling in rough seas capsized off the coast of Christmas Island early this morning. Inside the boat were approximately 70 asylum seekers from Iran and Iraq, many now of which are feared dead. Reports from Government sources indicate that 41 of the 75 asylum seekers were rescued. So far only 27 bodies have been recovered from the water, but authorities believe the death toll could rise to 50. The remainder of people were not accounted for. The incident is believed to have occurred at about 6:00am. 

Residents of Christmas Island first attended the scene to assist in the rescue attempt. The residents rushed to the boat after hearing screams very early in the morning. They then went out and attempted to assist. Customs are believed to be attending the scene currently. Life jackets have been provided, but not every person on the boat has received one. Rough seas hampered rescue attempts. The boat, according to witnesses was upturned and surrounded by large quantities of debris after being smashed against rocks. It is located in the vicinity of Flying Fish Cove.  

Gordon Thomson, president of the Christmas Island Shire stated that the incident was a "very bad situation". The  (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) expressed concern and sadness over the incident.

"We believe that far too many people are tragically losing their lives as they take desperate measures to escape conflict, persecution and poverty," said the UNHCR in a statement on its website.

Christmas Island hosts an immigration center which is currently housing over 3,000 individuals seeking asylum.