Jakarta, Sep 30

Rescuers have fished out 33 bodies as search efforts were underway to find dozens of others missing after an Australia-bound boat sank off Indonesia's West Java island Friday, rescuer said Monday.

Twenty-eight people have been rescued safely by the rescuers, Xinhua reported citing Maman Padmono, rescuer in-charge at West Java Search and Rescue Office.

But Padmono could not confirm the number of missing people. According to information from a local military command, the number of missing people reached 59 out of a total of 120 passengers from the Middle East. 

"The search and rescue is underway now to find scores of other missing people," he said. 

Rescue officials, police and military have searched waters along Cianjur coast to find the missing people, said Maman. 

Indonesia has been a favourite transit-point for those from the Middle East or other countries seeking asylum in Australia.

By:IANS