Four dead in Australia refugee boat sinking

Four asylum-seekers died after a people-smuggling ship carrying around 150 passengers capsized off Australia's remote Christmas Island Tuesday, triggering a major rescue operation. The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service said the vessel overturned as it was being escorted in heavy weather to the island by two navy ships, after issuing a distress call earlier in the day.
"HMAS Warramunga rescued 76 people from the water and HMAS Albany rescued 68 people from the water. Tragically, four deceased persons were recovered," Customs said in a statement. "It is believed that there were approximately 150 people on board based on an assessment of information provided by the vessel's crew. This number has been revised downwards from an initial estimate of up to 180 people." A military aircraft managed to drop life rafts to those stranded in the water, many of whom were reportedly not wearing life-vests.