Fed: Investigation already underway into cause of boat explosion
16 Apr 2009 5:36 PM
DARWIN, April 16 AAP - Investigations are already underway into the "manner and cause" of the explosion that killed at least three suspected asylum seekers on a boat off the northern coast of Australia, Northern Territory police say.
Deputy Commissioner Bruce Wernham said the explosion occurred in the Ashmore and Cartier Islands territory.
"(This) is within the jurisdiction of the Northern Territory and as a consequence within the jurisdiction of the Northern Territory coroner," he told reporters.
"It will be a multi-jurisdictional investigation, it will entail resources from the Australian Federal Police ... it will entail significant cooperation with the Western Australian police.
"... All the relevant agencies - immigration and Customs and the like - will have input."
Mr Wernham said the investigation team had already been formed, to be led by Assistant Commissioner Mark McAdie.
"Our interest is the manner and cause of the deaths that happened tragically this morning and we will all be working towards some kind of resolution into how and why that happened," Mr Wernham said.
"At the end of that process, it may well be that it is through misadventure or mishap or, as you say, it might result in charges, we simply don't know at this stage."
Mr Wernham could not confirm reports that the boat was doused in petrol, saying "you get all sorts of different versions" in the early hours after such an incident.
Three people are confirmed dead after the explosion at about 6.30am (WST) on Thursday, with two missing and many more injured, including up to four navy personnel.
Royal Darwin Hospital general manager Len Notaras said the majority of injuries were burns from fire, as well as fractures, head injuries and injuries as a result of being immersed in water for a period of time.
"They are being transported to an oil rig and they will be transported from that oil rig to other areas of the Western Australian coast and then transported across the country here to Darwin," he said.
Perth, Broome and Darwin hospitals would all receive the injured, he said, with Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) anticipating they will arrive some time early Friday morning.
He said the hospital was preparing for a worst case scenario and expected to receive many people with significant injuries.
