SYDNEY: One hundred and six people were plucked to safety from a sinking asylum-seeker boat off Australia Tuesday, with just two suffering minor injuries, rescuers said.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) had earlier reported a boat with approximately 105 people on board was in trouble.
It did not say if everyone had been accounted for, only that the rescue operation was continuing.
AMSA received a request for assistance from someone onboard the boat Tuesday morning. A navy ship and a customs and border protection aircraft responded.
A merchant vessel also joined the rescue effort.
"The vessel was upright, but partially submerged. A number of people were sighted in the water," an AMSA spokeswoman said.
"As at 3:30pm (0530 GMT) HMAS Parramatta has reportedly recovered 106 people from the water.
"Two people are reported to have minor injuries. Search and rescue operations continue."
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