Death toll hits 1,100 in Med after 200 migrants drown

MORE than 200 migrants drowned in a three-day period as they tried to cross the Mediterranean.

The deaths off the Libyan coast between Friday and Sunday sent the toll for the year to between 1,100 and 1,200.

Three children were among more than 100 who lost their lives when a dinghy sank on Friday. A further 100 were feared drowned after a small boat capsized on Sunday night. Nearly 1,000 Europe-bound migrants were returned to Libya after more boats were intercepted.

Charities say a surge in attempted crossings is down to traffickers rushing to beat a crackdown signalled by EU leaders last week and better sea conditions. An EU Commission spokesman said that although the number of crossings has dropped significantly since 2015, it is now ‘more lethal than ever’ to attempt the journey because an increased number of European vessels has made it difficult to leave the treacherous waters off Libya.

International Organisation for Migration spokesman Leonard Doyle said: ‘It is likely they [the smugglers] recognise the EU is getting its act together and the smugglers are saying “this is the time to go”.’

Mediterranean crossings are down around 95 per cent on 2015. Just over 45,300 migrants have arrived by sea to Spain, Italy and Greece this year.The figure for 2017 was 172,301, with 3,139 dead or missing. The majority died on the route from north Africa to Italy.