The number of migrants seeking to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean has significantly reduced, but this year 3740 people drowned during that dangerous trip, announced William Spindler, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) . According to him, in 2016, 328.000 migrants reached Europe by the Mediterranean; whereas 3740 were drowned.

For comparison, last year more than one million migrants reached Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. Spindler stressed, that almost half of the drowned in the current year were from the North Africa. They tried to reach Italy. Most of the tragic events happen, because smugglers use old and unfit ships to transport the migrants. Some accidents occur due to bad weather conditions.