Dozens of foreigners were believed to be on the run yesterday in an Australian mangrove rainforest after their suspected illegal fishing boat ran aground in crocodile-infested waters. The Australian Border Force said a "number of potential unlawful non-citizens" were located, but did not reveal their country of origin or whether they were fishermen or asylum-seekers.

Locals said they saw people fleeing into the forest after their vessel ran aground near Daintree River in the tropical far north of Queensland state yesterday. Media reports said they may be from Vietnam, although a marine rescue official said it was an Indonesian boat.