Asylum seekers land in dangerous waters

They will have to avoid crocodiles, venomous snakes and giant cassowaries

An asylum seeker boat has reached Australia for the first time in almost four years, the government said yesterday, with many of those on board the Vietnamese vessel fleeing into mangrove rainforest after it ran aground in crocodile-infested waters.

Locals said passengers from the rickety vessel disappeared into the dense forest near the Daintree River, north of popular tourist city Cairns, in the tropical far north of Queensland state on Sunday.

They will have to avoid crocodiles, venomous snakes and giant cassowaries — one of the world’s deadliest and aggressive birds — that all call the ancient Daintree rainforest home.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation 15 passengers had been found so far.

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.

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.”