Race to save 180 asylum seekers after boat capsizes near Christmas Island
DOZENS of asylum seekers are feared drowned in waters off Christmas Island after their vessel capsized tonight.
A RAAF plane had dropped life rafts to up to 180 people who were thrown into rough seas when the dangerously overcrowded vessel capsized around 7pm AEST.
The vessel had first made a distress call around 2.15am but poor weather conditions had prevented Australian authorities boarding the boat.
It was being escorted to Christmas Island by HMAS Albany when it capsized.
