( CNN ) -- Australia 's prime minister Friday slammed those engaged in human trafficking after an explosion aboard a boat carrying Afghan refugees killed three people and injured more than 40 others near Ashmore Reef , off Australia 's northwest coast . `` People smugglers are engaged in the world 's most evil trade and they should all rot in jail because they represent the absolute scum of the earth , '' Prime Minister Kevin Rudd told reporters . `` We see this lowest form of human life at work in what we saw on the high seas yesterday . That 's why this government maintains its hardline , tough , targeted approach to maintaining border protection for Australia . And that 's why we have dedicated more resources to combat people smuggling than any other government in Australian history . '' The boat was carrying 49 refugees , officials said . In addition to the three killed , two others were missing . Rudd would not comment on the cause of the explosion , citing the ongoing investigation . The prime minister acknowledged that human smuggling was an increasing problem exacerbated by `` global factors '' but defended his government 's border security policies . `` Our staff , our naval staff , our coast watch staff , our aerial surveillance staff and others , our police , are doing a first class job backed up by our intelligence officers as well , also in collaboration with partners across the region , '' the prime minister said . `` Because it is a global phenomenon and we are finding push factors operating from around the world , our active partnership with international governments and international agencies like the UNHCR is equally critical . This is a fight on many fronts . It is a fight which we have been engaged in for some time and a fight which other governments around the world are equally engaged in with us . '' Rudd said the refugees ' requests for asylum `` will be treated under the normal provisions of the law through the examination of each of their individual cases . ''
explosion on boat carrying Afghan refugees killed three people and injured 40 . Rudd : ' The smugglers are engaged in the world 's most evil trade ' and would not comment on cause of explosion , citing the ongoing investigation .