(CNN) -- Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard defended her country's border protection policy Thursday and said authorities will investigate the events surrounding the deaths of 28 asylum seekers in a boat crash.
The vessel crashed on Wednesday along the shore near Christmas Island, and Gillard, speaking at a Thursday news conference, called the event a tragedy.
"Yesterday we saw a truly horrific event, a terrible human tragedy, on what is a very dangerous coastline at Christmas Island and I know the nation is shocked by what we have seen," Gillard said.
Rescuers were able to pull 42 people from the treacherous waters and many were still getting medical treatment, Gillard said.
It was unclear how many people were on the boat so there could be more bodies found, Gillard said. CNN
