Christmas Island survivors getting specialist care

Survivors of last week's fatal Christmas Island boat accident are receiving specialist care as they come to grips with the tragedy, immigration officials say.

Thirty people, including 13 men, nine women, four children and four babies, perished when their wooden boat struck rocks and broke apart in heavy seas early on Wednesday morning.

Immigration Department spokesman Peter Richards said the agency was focused on caring for the accident's 42 survivors.

"It's a very difficult time for the survivors but for also other people within the detention facilities," he told reporters on Christmas Island on Sunday.

"There are a number that we've identified, for example, that have relatives amongst this group (of deceased)."

Mr Richards said five of the six survivors taken to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment had been discharged and were now in immigration detention in Western Australia.

A private memorial service organised by representatives from the survivors group, in conjunction with a local Christmas Island imam, will take place later this afternoon.

Australian Federal Police Superintendent Gavan Ryan said the process of interviewing survivors was under way.

"Part of that process is to take survivors to the hospital to visually identify the deceased to comply with West Australian coroner standards," he said, adding that 15 people had been formally identified so far.

- AAP