Death toll for refugees making Mediterranean crossing hits record high, IMO says

‘Latest figures show the death toll for refugees and asylum seekers attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in flimsy dinghies or unsafe fishing boats to reach Europe has soared to an unprecedented level.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced on Thursday that four shipwrecks in the Mediterranean over the past two-and-a-half days have left nearly 340 refugees dead or missing, making this year the deadliest for asylum seekers risking the dangerous voyage to Europe.
The IOM noted that the shipwreck causalities take to over 4,500 the number of refugees who have died or gone missing crossing the Mediterranean so far this year. The figure marks a steady increase compared to the 3,770 people reported dead or missing last year.’
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