A BOAT carrying asylum-seekers has smashed onto rocks in heavy seas at Christmas Island, with unconfirmed reports that many people have drowned.
Government sources told The Australian Online they believed about 70 people were aboard the boat and between 30 and 35 had been rescued, with the rest unaccounted for.
It is understood that most of those on board were Iranians and Iraqis.
The Australian Federal Police have released a statement on the boat crash, revealing that they are responding to a “maritime incident involving a suspected illegal entry vessel on Christmas Island”.
Pamela Curr, the campaign coordinator at Asylum Seeker Resource Centre told The Australian Online she had received a text message from someone on the island saying that at least 30 people had been saved.
She said she was informed that people had been in the water since early this morning in 3m swell.
“What happened that they allowed this boat to come in the rough seas?” she asked. “We need answers.”
Witness Phillip Stewart told Sky News that he saw the boat being dashed by waves and that while some people survived he believed up to 50 people had died.
Locals have told The Australian that the boat came into local waters some time this morning without being detected by authorities.
Dramatic pictures show the vessel, with women and children on board, being picked up by the waves and smashed into cliffs near Flying Fish Cove earlier today.
Navy ribs were used to pick up some survivors from the heavy seas after the vessel broke up.
Witnesses said people were being washed up on the jagged cliffs near the island’s old hospital and police station.
One local resident who lives nearby, but who did not want to be named, said she heard screams at 6am and went down to the cliffs where she saw people hanging on to the boat as it was being pushed towards the cliff in huge seas.
"It almost tipped,” the woman said. “One woman was holding a small child.” The boat broke up soon after that, she said.
Phone calls went out around the island and hundreds of people went to the cliffs, throwing life jackets, ropes and anything else that floated out to the asylum-seekers.
Teacher Robyn Stephenson said it was impossible to swim to swim to shore there.
“They were being washed into the cliffs, the really sharp cliffs,” Ms Stephenson said.
“There were phone calls all around to people to get down and help. As soon as the people in the water saw the people on the cliffs they started trying to get into the cliffs and the people on the land were saying move out because three’s huge waves at the moment.”
Local resident Allison Millcock said she arrived at the cliffs at 8am, by which time she could only see wood chips floating in the water. “I’ve been told the refugees got into trouble around 6am . At around 8am there were only woodchips in water. I’m told about 20 were rescued. It’s only rough number."
A contractor with the council, manning a roadblock, said only federal police, hospital staff other emergency personnel and staff from security contractor Serco were being allowed down to the scene.
He said the navy was trying to bring survivors 6km around the other side of the island to calmer waters at Lilly Beach.
Mr Stewart told Sky that waves of 4-5 metres were washing over the steep limestone cliffs today. It is the height of storm season for the area off Australia's northwest coast.
"They were in a surge zone," he said, "one of the most dangerous places to be.
He said many people were being struck by flotsam and jetsam.
Christmas Island shire president Gordon Thomson told The West Australian he understood it was a “very bad situation” but he was unclear of the details.
Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison told The Australian Online: “If this is indeed true it highlights once again how very dangerous this business is of people coming by boat and why it is so important again that we do everything possible to ensure that these boats don’t come in this way.
“It’s extremely important that the government make a statement at the earliest opportunity to confirm what has taken place. Because I mean naturally there’ll be all sorts of unofficial reports.
“I think it’s important that some clarity is given to the events as soon as possible.
“This is a very upsetting event and potentially a very significant tragedy.”
The AFP has stressed that its response is ongoing and its priority is to ensure the safety of “all involved” in the incident.
“The AFP and partner government agencies on Christmas Island are coordinating the immediate response to this incident”.
It will release a more detailed statement shortly.
A spokesman for Customs and Border Protection issued a brief statement a short time ago.
“There is an ongoing situation which involves a rescue of people off Christmas Island . Our paramount priority is the safety of all involved. A further statement will be provided later in the day,” he said.
- With Nicolas Perpitch, Tony Barrass and Joe Kelly
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.