A CARGO ship has plucked six asylum seekers from the ocean south-west of the Indonesian island of Java this morning as the captain prepared to abandon the search for their stricken boat.

But there are fears scores more, including children, have died, with the crew of the refugees' vessel reporting 150 people were on board when the vessel sank.

Screams and whistles alerted the crew of bulk carrier APL Bahrain as it searched the notorious Sunda Strait early today after a distress signal was issued yesterday.

The latest incident comes after the deaths of about 300 asylum seekers since December along the same route between Java and Christmas Island.

APL Bahrain captain Manuel Nistorescu said he saw what he believed were corpses in the water with the survivors.

Read more at Brisbane Times