LOC15:13
12:13 GMT
GENEVA, March 3 (KUNA) -- Up to 487 seekers of immigration to Europe drowned in the Mediterranean in first two months of this year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported.
The figure is higher than the one recorded in the past year -- 426, the IOM said in a report released on Friday.
Those who made it alive to Europe were estimated at 16,927, majority of whom ended up in Italy and Spain. The rest took up refuge in Greece.
Immigrants who went to Italy in this year's first two months reached 13,446, compared to 9,086 last year.
Many of the immigration seekers, from North Africa, war-torn Syria and other troubled regional nations, fail to sail to European shores due to various problems and lack of well-built or well-equipped boats. (end)
ta.rk