(CNN) -- At least 27 people were killed Wednesday after a boat carrying asylum seekers crashed into cliffs along the shore near the coast of Christmas Island, Australian rescue and Customs and Border Protection officials said.
Rescue officials were able to pull 41 people from the "dangerous" waters and one person was able to swim to shore.
"The rescue is being conducted in extremely difficult and dangerous conditions," the border protection agency said in a statement. '"We will continue the search until last light and review the situation and determine what further actions might need to be taken before first light tomorrow".
Most of the victims are believed to be women and children, according to Stephen Langford, medical director of Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia.
Most of the people on the boat were from Iran and Iraq, a rescue worker told Sydney radio station 2GB. CNN
