Australia calls off rescue for asylum seekers

SYDNEY - The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has called off the search and rescue operation for survivors in the asylum seeker boat that sank north of Christmas Island on Wednesday, local media reported on Thursday.

All 130 survivors and the body of one of the passengers have been taken to Christmas Island for processing, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports.

AMSA said the rescue operation mid-way between Christmas Island and Indonesia was completed at 2130 (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Wednesday.

One deceased person was recovered and 130 people were rescued during a search and rescue operation involving two Royal Australian Navy patrol boats and three merchant vessels, AMSA said in a joint statement with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

AMSA said information from the survivors, including crew members, indicated that there were 134 people on board and three people went down with the vessel.

"Following an intense search and rescue operation during the day, no more survivors or deceased people have been sighted in the search area by on scene aircraft or vessels," the joint statement said.