Belgian police search Wexford asylum seekers' safe house

Police in Belgium have begun searching the safe house where the 13 asylum seekers found in Wexford stayed before being put on a container in Zeebrugge.

The house was discovered after a massive international police effort across six countries. It is now being thoroughly examined, while the driver of the truck on its voyage from Germany to Zeebrugge is also being questioned by Belgian authorities.

The Minister for Justice John O'Donoghue will contact his counterparts in Britain, France, Belgium, Germany and Italy today to thank them for their efforts.

Of the nine Turks, two Albanians and two Algerians who made the ill-fated journey, only five have survived. They remain seriously ill in hospital, while post mortem results on the eight who died are expected this morning.