No hope for 55 people lost in Indian Ocean capsize

CANBERRA, Australia— Australian rescue authorities have given up hope of finding any survivors after an asylum seeker boat carrying at least 55 people to Australia capsized in the Indian Ocean.

An air crew first spotted the submerged hull and a body on Friday northwest of Christmas Island, an Australian territory closer to Indonesia than the Australian mainland.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said in a statement it had called off the search late Sunday based on medical advice that no one could have survived any longer in the sea.

The authority’s spokeswoman Jo Meehan said discussions are underway on Monday about whether a new search will be mounted to recover bodies.

A total of 13 bodies had been spotted from search ships and aircraft by Sunday, along with debris and life jackets.