Ninety-seven asylum seekers are feared to have died at sea while en route to Australia from Indonesia after relatives failed to hear from them, Australia's media reported on Sunday.

According to Fairfax newspaper, fourteen relatives from Iraq and Iran contacted welfare groups in Australia, saying they last contacted with their family members on Nov. 13, when they were told the boat would leave Jakarta of Indonesia the next day.

The boat was expected to arrive in Australia more than three weeks before the boat tragedy on Christmas Island on Dec. 15.

Australia Associated Press reported on Sunday that refugee advocates who have been making inquiries in Indonesia said they have been told the missing boat was organized by an Algerian smuggler and was "lost".

A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection said it was unaware of claims of a missing boat.

Meanwhile, a media release on the website of Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor noted that Australian Customs intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel carrying about 97 passengers and three crew on board north-east of Christmas Island on Dec. 2.

Human rights group Project SafeCom spokesman Jack Smit said he is very confident the boat arrived in Australian waters earlier this month.

Smit said it was important that boats were only reported missing when they had failed to turn up.

"I am very confident this is the same boat," he told Australia Associated Press on Sunday.

"It's really clear because as soon as a boat arrives the minister releases a press release.

"We can't confirm anything because if the boat is missing, it's missing (but) a lot of people will now be concerned with no reason. "

On Saturday, a boat carrying 57 asylum seekers was intercepted north-east of Ashmore Island. The passengers were expected to be transferred to Christmas Island.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments