22 rescued as Indonesian boat sinks; 120 missing

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Associated Press

Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:30 AM

Updated Thursday, Aug 30 at 2:31 AM

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Officials say 22 people have been rescued from a boat overloaded with about 150 asylum seekers that sank off Indonesia, and more survivors have been spotted.

The boat sank Wednesday on its way from the main Indonesian island of Java to Australia. A merchant ship rescued six Afghan men early Thursday.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said in a statement that an Australian navy patrol boat has retrieved another 16 survivors. An aircraft crew spotted more survivors in the water.

Another three merchant vessels had joined the search.

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