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Mediterranean migrant death toll fast approaching record count: IOM

Xinhua, October 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

With 3,632 migrants and refugees having drowned crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe since January 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned Friday that figures were sure to surpass last year's death toll of 3,702.

"The 3,632 total does not include an additional 17 missing migrants reported by IOM Rome on Thursday, based on reports this week from rescue ships still at sea," the organization said in a statement.

"If those are confirmed when survivors arrive in port today, the total Mediterranean death toll would rise to almost 3,650 in 2016, with approximately 11 weeks remaining until year's end," it added.

While this year's number of maritime migrant deaths is almost certain to be higher than in 2015, the number of arrivals is significantly lower.

According to IOM figures, over 317,200 migrants and refugees have reached European shores this year through Oct. 12.

Most migrants who survived the perilous sea journeys arrived in Greece (168,427 entries) and Italy (144,950), with the remaining 3,804 and 28 reaching Spain and Cyprus respectively.

In comparison, more than 508,000 arrivals were documented in the first nine months of 2015 alone, with over a million migrants and refugees finally arriving in Europe by the end of the year. Endit