Rescuers yesterday found two more bodies from a capsized asylum seeker boat, bringing the death toll to five, but 90 passengers are still unaccounted for.
More than 100 people have been rescued since the overcrowded vessel capsized on Thursday afternoon about halfway between the Indonesian island of Java and Christmas Island.
Poor weather hampered yesterday's search, which was to resume at first light today, but Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said it was unlikely that any more survivors would be found.
Three aircraft and one boat continued the search overnight but no bodies or survivors were found. Australian Maritime Safety Authority representative Jo Meehan said they were "still in that period of survivability".
"We are operating under conditions that include the water temperature, the weather, the fact that we know there were life jackets on board, rafts and debris," Meehan said.
