Boat Carrying Illegal Immigrants Sinks South of Cianjur

Cianjur, W Java (Antara) - A boat carrying tens of illegal immigrants sailing to Australia's Christmas Island sank in South Cianjur waters, West Java, on Wednesday, a local official said. The official who refused to be named said a total of 31 victims had been rescued but he predicted that there were about one hundred illegal immigrants on board. "We do not know the exact number of people on board but we think there could be about one hundred people," he said. No official explanations have been available from the local police on the sinking of the boat, reportedly a barge. He said that the local authorities found it difficult to communicate with the 31 victims who had been rescued. Some of the victims are black some others are white. (*) editing byA. Abdussalam/F. Assegaf