JAKARTA – Three asylum seekers – including a two-year-old – drowned when their Australia-bound boat sank in rough seas off Java, but 29 others were rescued, AFP quoted police as saying Tuesday (December 10th) according to AFP.

The vessel, carrying 32 people including Rohingya Muslims from Burma, Iranians and a Bangladeshi, was bound for the Australian territory of Christmas Island, police said.

The boat sank off West Java province early Monday after being battered by big waves, provincial police spokesman Martinus Sitompul told AFP. "Fishermen found the boat off Ciawi beach in Garut district," he said.

Fishermen rescued the other 29 people onboard. The asylum seekers were handed over to immigration authorities, Martinus said.