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Mediterranean maritime migrant deaths top 3,000 in 2016: IOM

Xinhua, July 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported Tuesday that 3,034 maritime migrant and refugee deaths have been documented so far this year, with the number of migrant sea arrivals into Europe fast approaching the 250,000 mark.

"This year's total so far is significantly higher compared to last year as of end of July 2015 when 1,917 had lost their lives at sea," IOM indicated in a statement.

"At the same time, the total number of arrivals by sea to Europe is only slightly higher than the same period in 2015," it added.

A breakdown of arrival figures shows that 159,657 maritime arrivals have been recorded in Greece since January, with 88,351 migrants reaching Italian shores.

A further 1,818 and 28 migrants have landed in Spain and Cyprus respectively.

The deadliest route by far for migrants and refugees attempting to reach Europe by sea is the central Mediterranean passage linking North Africa with Italy, where 2,606 individuals have drowned this year.

A total of 383 migrants have perished on the eastern Mediterranean route separating Turkey and Greece, while 45 have died on the Western Mediterranean and Western African routes. Endit