Australian hospitals prepare for injured Afghans
Updated
Three people have died, two are missing, and dozens injured after an explosion onboard a wooden boat which was carrying suspected Afghan asylum seekers near Australia's Ashmore Reef, west of Darwin in the Northern Territory.
The navy and police are investigating what caused yesterday's explosion and fire onboard the fishing trawler which carried 49 people. Hospitals in the Australian cities of Darwin and Perth are treating some of the badly burnt survivors.
The general manager of the Royal Darwin Hospital, Len Notaras, says more victims with less serious injuries will arrive on an Australian Navy patrol boat.
Presenter: Sarah Hawke
Speaker: Dr Len Notaras, the general manager of the Royal Darwin Hospital; various journalists
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DR LEN NOTARAS: The injuries sustained by these two gentlemen are consistent with a significant fire and, indeed, also an explosion that might well have followed that fire or been associated with it. One of the gentlemen has sustained a very nasty compound fracture of his upper limb along with burns to part of his body. The other gentleman is on life support and is in a serious condition. He's received burns to the majority of his body and some head injuries, as well. Both gentlemen have received some airway burns along with their other injuries.
SARAH HAWKE: But do you expect the other patients coming to Darwin to be this bad?
DR LEN NOTARAS: Yes, we do. They could be as bad as this, indeed some may even be worse. Quite a few of them will be less significantly injured as this, as well.
FEMALE REPORTER 1: Do you know if any of them are children?
DR LEN NOTARAS: At this stage, I can't comment on that. I believe there were a couple of young people on board the plane, but suffice to say that I can't really make a comment.
MALE REPORTER 1: The language barrier is obviously going to be an issue, Len. Have you got interpreters?
DR LEN NOTARAS: We have onsite both religious personnel of their faith and indeed interpreters of a couple of different dialects and languages, as well.
SARAH HAWKE: Is there any feedback from the teams just how they're coping on the ground and how quickly they've been able to move and coordinate things?
DR LEN NOTARAS: Yes, the teams have moved very well. We've been in a fortunate position from Darwin of having nine of our emergency response team over there, along with some of our team. So, in total, Darwin's had 15 professionals on site.
SARAH HAWKE: Do we know how many patients are on the patrol boats and the types of injuries they've sustained?
DR LEN NOTARAS: Look, at this stage, I can't tell you exactly but I can suggest that we believe there's somewhere in the vicinity of 13 coming here to Darwin.
SARAH HAWKE: Obviously security pretty tight around the hospital.
DR LEN NOTARAS: Security is tight and will continue to be tight both for the protection of the individuals and given the unique nature of their arrival here from their trip on the boat.
