One dead, 8 missing in asylum seeker boat sinking accident close to Australia coast

MELBOURNE, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government said on Saturday that a asylum seekers boat sank on Friday night, leaving at least one baby boy dead and eight others missing, while the rescue team has saved 88 survivors close to the country's northwestern Christmas Island.

According to Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare, the human- smuggling boat carrying 97 people from Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, issued a emergency call Friday morning in north of Christmas Island which locates between Indonesia and Australia.

"Our officers rescued 88 people and they have recovered the body of a little baby boy," Clare told reporters, adding the search and rescue operation is still underway.

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