This page collects information on deaths or missing connected with Australian border controls or irregular travel to Australia by asylum seekers and migrants. If you are aware of corrections or data that should be reflected on this page, please submit a comment. The toll in Australia is a small fraction of the toll worldwide.
Deaths or Missing At Sea Since 2000: 1391
2011: 232
203 17 December asylum seekers mainly from Afghanistan and Iran drowned when overcrowded boat off East Java on way to Australia sank
27 asylum seekers believed to have drowned 2 November in sinking off Java
1 Mohammed Asif Atay : Hazara Afghan asylum seeker found dead in cell. 19 year old. Committed suicide after suffering depression and being in detention for 10 months. 29 March 2011
1 Meqdad Hussein Hazara Afghan asylum seeker found dead in his cell . 20 year old. Committed suicide using bed sheet. Scherger Detention Centre Weipa Queensland. 17 March 2011.
2010: 71
50 asylum seekers believed drowned in sinking of boat just off shore of Christmas Island. 15 December 2010
5 missing presumed dead April 5 Sri Lanka asylum seekers missing after attempting to swim for help from boat
12 drowned June Sri Lankan asylum seekers lost when attempting to transfer boats
1 30 year old male asylum seeker died after suffering heart attack in remote detention centre
1 Josefa Rauluni Fiji asylum seeker jumped to his death at Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney when confronted with officials undertaking his deportation to Fiji. Rauluni is reported to have been a democracy activist before his death. 20 September 2010.
1 Ahmad Al-Akabi asylum seeker committed suicide in Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney. A father of three from Iraq. It is reported that he requested to be allowed to return to Iraq shortly before his death. 16 November 2010.
1. David Saunders detainee in Villawood Detention Centre. Held in high security. Believed to have committed suicide. 8 December 2010.50 Estimated lives lost when asylum seeker boat (SIEV221) carrying men women and children founders off shore of Christmas Island. Local residents make desperate efforts to save people cast into the sea when their boat was smashed on cliff shore. Asylum seekers from Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran. References 1 2 3
2009: 171
105 Reports emerged in 2011 that a boat carrying 105 Hazara asylum seekers went missing on 2 October 2009. The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has made documents available concerning the disappearance at http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/2011-031694_Documents_Released.pdf
1 Andrew Derek Moore who had lived in Australia from the age of 11 died of unexplained reasons days after being deported to London at age 43. He was deported after failing the character test.
5 drowned April boat explosion – failed rescue by Australian naval boat
12 drowned Tamil asylum seekers nw of Cocos Island
1 death on board, December Sri Lankan asylum seeker in Merak Port 250 asylum seekers refusing to leave ship after being detained on way to Australia. Alleged failure by IOM to provide medical treatment.
22 (5 deaths and 17 missing at sea) Aghan asylum seekers in wooden boat off Sumatra. Most likely ultimate destination was Australia. 28 May 2009
11 asylum seekers detained in Nauru and returned to Afghanistan believed to have been killed by Taliban including Tour Gul and Mohammad Halim. Reported April 2009.
14 January 15 Boat carrying 18 asylum seekers sinkts of Rote Island soutwest of Timor. 4 survive. Asylum seekers had broken out of Indonesian detention centre. Source The Australian 16 December 2010 p 5
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003: 3
1 death in custody Fatima Erfani mother of three Christmas Island Detention Centre
1 death in custody Viliami Tanginoa (Tonga) Marybrynong Detention Centre, Victoria
1 death in custody 19 June Quoc Kinh Phung Marybrynong Detention Centre, Sydney after deportation order imposed
2002: 45
1 26 year old asylum seeker dies in Australian detention in Nauru
1 December refugee killed after being returned to Afghanistan
1 November ‘Nader’ asylum seeker deported to Iran, disappeared on return presumed killed
42 May 22 Asylum seeker boat carrying Afghan asylum seekers last sighted. Believed to have sunk enroute to Australia. Source: The Australian Dec 16 2010 p 5
2001: 356
3 drowned after capsicum spray used to force back asylum seekers in operation relex
353 drowned in sinking of SIEV-X (October 19)
2000: 513
160 asylum seekers believed lost at sea
350 asylum seekers believed lost at sea
1 death in custody Phuongtong Simplee Villawood Detention Centre2 drowned November grandmother and young woman pregnant with first child Nurjan Husseini and Fatima Husseini
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hi dear, I thanks tu u and your websites members to share this with refugees. Please share the ninety seven people also who’s boat is missing
Hi there, Thanks very much for your comment and bringing this one to our attention. The media articles we can find about a missing boat with 97 asylum seekers around 26 December last year say that the boat arrived, although it had been thought to be missing. However if you have any more information that might clarify these reports would be much appreciated.
plz let me know about the 105 asylum seeker on boat missing in Oct 2009 from Indonesia to Australia, plz help me….. I am worried about this…
kindly inform by website… to all family……plz plz plz….
Dear Ali,
Thank you for contacting us. We are sorry to hear of another boat which has gone missing. It must be incredibly distressing to family members. We don’t have any information we can share apart from what is reported in the media. However we have today lodged a Freedom of Information request with Customs. If this provides any useful information we will draw it to your attention. We hope that the relatives may be relieved of their uncertainty concerning the fate of their loved ones. regards Michael
Please, Look for some new information about 97 people who have lost since November 2010,
salam ,,i also have the same problem of that boat ,,my; brother is on that boat if any one knows abt that boat plzzz let me know abt that plzzzz plzzzz inform meee about the boat of 105 oct 2009 pllzzzzzzzzz..my whole family is dying to know abt my brother on that boat ……..
On 20 January 2012 we were informed by the FOI Officer at the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service that it had posted documents on its website in response to another Freedom of Information request lodged with them concerning the disappearance of a boat carrying asylum seekers around 2 October 2009. The documents including communications between Australian and Indonesian authorities are available at the following link:
http://www.customs.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/2011-031694_Documents_Released.pdf
The documents indicate that the Australian authorities received reports of a boat in distress on this date carrying around 105 people. The boat never arrived in Australia.