Rescuers are battling high waves as they search for any survivors from a boat that's overturned off Indonesia's main island of Java.

Around 200 asylum seekers are feared drowned, so far only 33 people have been plucked alive from the choppy waters.

Two were children, aged eight and 10, who found clinging to the broken debris of the boat five hours after the accident on Saturday.

There are reports that an associate of a recenlty arrested people smuggling boss is behind the trip, with witnesses saying the captain and crew put on life vests and swam to safety leaving people to drown in the massive waves.

Australian Federal police officers will assist Indonesian authorities investigating the people smugglers.

An Australian navy patrol boat and a surveillance aircraft will also assist the ongoing search-and-rescue operation but authorities aren't expecting to find any more survivors.
 

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