Search is on for suspected migrants after swamp crash

SYDNEY — An unknown number of people were believed to be on the run in a crocodile-infested swamp in northeastern Australia after a fishing boat ran aground on Sunday, authorities and reports said.

A vessel was spotted partially submerged near the Daintree River in Australia’s northeast coast, with dozens of its occupants spotted fleeing on foot, which sparked a search by Australia’s Border Force.

“We don’t know whether these are illegal refugees or we don’t know if these are fishermen who were maybe fishing illegally and have ended up in Australian waters and the boat’s gone bad and they’ve got trapped,” Cairns state lawmaker Michael Healy said.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that 15 passengers had been found so far. Local media said they were from Vietnam, a country from which asylum-seeker boats are often detained in Australian waters before they reach land.

The ABC added that two others, including the boat’s captain, were still missing. The Brisbane Courier Mail reported that up to 20 were unaccounted for. It said those detained were well dressed and in good health.

With an unknown number of people still missing, concerns are growing for their safety in what can be very dangerous area, inhabited by saltwater crocodiles and other deadly wildlife.

Jan Von Keyserlingk, who operates a tour boat in the area, said that during the day the crocodiles are mostly lethargic and unlikely to pose too much risk, but at night anybody who enters the water could certainly become a target.

“If you’re swimming in the river at night time there, you’ve got problems,” Keyserlingk said.

He added that without help, the harsh conditions of rain forest are likely to get the better of the missing men.

“You can dehydrate pretty quickly even in winter and it makes you hungry walking up the steep hills where they are,” Keyserlingk said.

“Before too long they’ll get sick of the rain forest and come out, I guarantee it.”

State Emergency Service area controller Peter Rinaudo said earlier his crews were searching through the mangroves and near the mouth of the river, reportedly with dogs.

“It’ll be a hard slog, it’s still quite warm in there and it’ll be tough conditions for the guys,” he told the ABC.

“I hope the people, however many there are, get located — it’s not a nice area for them to be in.”