Crews working on abandoned vessel as concerns grow for missing people

DAINTREE



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DOUGLAS Shire Mayor Julia Leu has told Newsport today she is concerned a large group of missing people are still roaming around unfamiliar territory in the Daintree Rainforest after leaving a fishing vessel.

But a larger concern at this point is the large amount of fuel on board the ship.

Up to six emergency service boats are currently patrolling the vessel and the surrounding shore line at the remote Cape Kimberley beach.

“I hope the missing people can be found quickly and brought to safety," Mayor Leu said.

“I encourage our community to continue to keep an eye out and report any suspicious activity or people to police."

Leu was reacting to a fishing vessel which was spotted near the mouth of the Daintree River yesterday, believed to be carrying a number of illegal asylum seekers.

When the boat was first spotted by Dave Patterson of Daintree Fishing and Photography Tours, there was no one on board.

It is believed that up to 30 illegal migrants had left the boat and were hiding inside Queensland’s crocodile-infested Daintree rainforest.

Earlier this morning, Newsport learned that three suspected asylum seekers had been apprehended as they made their way towards the Daintree Ferry. Police are currently searching vehicles making their way across the ferry from the rainforest.

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Police are checking cars leaving the Daintree Rainforest at the Daintree River crossing. IMAGE: Mark Murray - Newsport.

Patterson said his biggest concern was the large quantity of 200l fuel drums on board and there have already been reports of oil spills.

“This is a huge worry and this is something that will need to be contained,” he said.

The scene at Cape Kimberley, north of the Daintree River ferry crossing. IMAGE: Mark Murray - Newsport.

Patterson first saw the boat at 8:30 yesterday morning while conducting a tour. The boat was seen off Cape Kimberley near the mouth of the Daintree River.

“I was on my way to Snapper Island and at the time, it looked like the boat was sinking. At that stage, I did not know if it had sunk," he said.

“When I got back to shore, I saw Julia (Leu) and advised her of what I had seen and she took it from there."

More to come...

 

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