国际英语新闻：At least 27 suspected refugees die in boat crash off Australian coast

CANBERRA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least 27 suspected asylum seekers have died after their boat smashed against jagged rocks on Christmas Island, off the north-west coast of Australia on Wednesday, Australian Customs confirmed.

Up to 80 asylum seekers including women and children were onboard a wooden Indonesian fishing boat when it crashed near Flying Fish Cove. The asylum seekers are believed to be from Iran and Iraq.

According to a statement from Australian Customs and Border Protection, 41 survivors have been recovered from the water.

However the authorities at 6 p.m. local time confirmed that 27 people in the boat died, their bodies have been recovered, and will be sent to Perth of Australia.

Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan said it was not clear if more bodies would be found in the wake of what he described as "a tragic event".

"It's obviously been very traumatizing for the local community and of course tragic for so many people on the boat," Swan told ABC Television on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced she will return from her holidays on Wednesday night to deal with the incident.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International Australia spokesman Andrew Beswick said the only way to stop asylum seekers risking their lives in dangerous sea voyages was to give them an alternative.

"This includes increasing the capacity and willingness of countries across the Asia Pacific to protect refugees," Beswick said in a statement released on Wednesday.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said the tragedy off Christmas Island was a "realization of our worst fears ", adding that the incident highlights once again how very dangerous it is for people coming by boat, and why it is so important that the party do everything possible to ensure that these boats do not come in this way.

The Immigration Department has set up an information phone line for people who may know someone onboard the boat. It said all calls will be treated confidentially and people may be able to help identify those involved in the incident.