One confirmed dead in Indian Ocean boat drama

Last Updated: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 14:35:00 +1100

The Australian Government says one person is confirmed to have died after a boat sank off the West Australian coast.

The boat went down 350 nautical miles off the Cocos Islands on Sunday night.

It's believed 39 people were on board.

The Home Affairs Minister, Brendan O'Connor, says 27 people have been rescued.

However, he says 11 people are still missing.

"We'll do everything we can, working with the foreign commercial vessels to recover people that are in the water," he said.

"We have aircraft surveying the area, seeking to detect people who may be in the water."

"But of course they are grave concerns for the safety of these 11 people."

Australian authorities are continuing to coordinate the rescue effort.

Calls for help

Earlier, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the vessel LNG Pioneer responded to a call to help from 40 people.

Authority spokeswoman Rhianne Robson said the ship's master told them the crew had rescued some of the people and are still searching for others.

"The LNG Pioneer is a large vessel and they are trying their best with life rafts and their lifeboat to recover those in the water," she said.

Grave fears were held for their safety because of the rough conditions and the length of time they had been in the water.

It is not yet known if any of those on board the boat were asylum seekers.

The safety authority says an Australian defence force P3 Orion patrol plane is being sent to assist with the search.

A Royal Flying Doctor Service jet and a Customs Dash 8 aircraft are also joining the search.

Chief of the Defence Force Angus Houston says the nearest navy ship is 28 hours away from the scene of the incident.