2 Oct 2010

98th boat of asylum seekers stopped

8:06 am on 2 October 2010

The Australian Navy has stopped a boat carrying 23 asylum seekers and four crew off the coast of West Australia.

The boat was located north of Ashmore Islands early on Friday morning.

The group was being taken to Christmas Island for identity and health checks.

The ABC reports the number of vessels intercepted in Australian waters this year is now 98. The number of passengers seeking asylum is more than 4600.