2010 Christmas Island boat disaster
Top: SIEV-221 prior to breakup;
Middle: SIEV-221 shortly after initial collision; Bottom: HMAS Pirie officers rescue survivors. | |
| Date | 15 December 2010 |
|---|---|
| Time | 5:20am – 9:00am |
| Duration | 3 hours and 40 minutes |
| Location | Near the coast of Rocky Point, Christmas Island, Australia |
| Coordinates | 10°25′1″S 105°40′24″E / 10.41694°S 105.67333°E |
| Type | Maritime disaster |
| Cause | Vessel crushed against rocks by heavy waves |
| Participants | Passengers and crew of SIEV-221, residents of Christmas Island, HMAS Pirie, ACV Triton |
| Deaths | 50 |
On 15 December 2010, an Indonesian fishing boat (known as the Janga and referred to as SIEV-221 by Australian Government authorities) carrying 89 asylum seekers and 3 crew members sank after being dashed against the rocks near Rocky Point, Christmas Island, an external Australian territory. 50 people died and 42 were rescued. The incident was the worst civilian maritime disaster in Australia in more than a century.