Makeshift hospital for boat emergency

16 Apr 2009, 3:05 pm   -   Source: SBS staff and agencies
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Medical workers are being flown to a makeshift hospital in Western Australia to help treat dozens of people hurt in a deadly boat explosion.

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Medical workers are being flown to a makeshift hospital in Western Australia to help treat dozens of people hurt in a deadly boat explosion.

Three people were killed when a blast sank the boat, which was carrying 49 asylum seekers, near Ashmore Reef, off northwestern Australia early this morning.

Two people are still missing, and all of the remaining passengers - and a number of naval personnel who were escorting the boat to Christmas Island - were hurt.

A doctor and nurse from Darwin are being flown to a temporary hospital base in Western Australia to help treat the injured.

The two medics, from Royal Darwin Hospital, are taking a large stock of medical supplies to Truscott Airbase, north of Kununnurra, where a makeshift hospital is being set up.

"They left the hospital about lunch time," a hospital spokesman said. 

"There was also a bus carrying medical supplies. I expect it will take them at least a couple of hours to get there."

Injuries still being assessed

The Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services have activated the Emergency Operation Centre in Darwin, while the National Critical Care and Trauma Unit at RDH is also on high alert.

"I am pretty sure we will be getting some people," the spokesman said. "(But) we are not expecting them until after sundown."

Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Alan Du Toit said the passengers, crew and navy workers had suffered a variety of injuries, from those comparable to sun burn, to much more serious wounds.

"The full extent of those injuries are still being assessed, we have a medical officer on board the vessel that is now transporting them and they will be prioritised on that basis."

He said the most seriously injured people were likely to be taken ashore by helicopter.

"We are transporting the people as we speak to their most appropriate and quickest means of saving lives."

 

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