A boat carrying 180 suspected asylum seekers capsized off Australia's Christmas Island and two are feared dead, News Limited reported on Tuesday.

Authorities have reported two people died, as the search for other missing asylum seekers continues late into the night, News Limited said.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed on Twitter that Australian navy has launched a rescue operation and two navy ships were at the scene 70 nautical miles off the island, northwest of Australia's mainland.