Some 61 Iraqis and Iranians drifted to Indonesian shores

Some 61 Iraqis and Iranians drifted ashore to the Jimbaran coast in the Indonesian province of Bali, after their ship suffered mechanical disorder 20 nautical miles off the coast.

The Indonesian news agency ANTARA reported that the foreign citizens were believed to be on their way to be smuggled to Australia.

The wooden ship with its four crew members was hauled to the Benoa port in Bali.

"The foreigners were drifted ashore on Jan 4, just a day before the Hindu holy day of Galungan," commander of the local naval base in Benoa, Col Dadiek Surarto, said.

A fisherman found the ship at sea. At that time, the fisherman could only take eight of the foreigners ashore.

The rescued eight then reported the mishap to the port authority in Benoa, who promptly organized a rescue in coordination with the local naval base.

Dadiek said the ship was believed to be adopting a new modus operandi in smuggling migrants to Australia.

He also disclosed that the ship originally came from the Pasuruan district in East Java province.

The 61 foreigners consisted of 8 Iranians and 53 Iraqis, including 16 children. They were turned over to the local immigration office.