Some 3,329 Mediterranean migrant deaths have been reported in the first ten months of this year, a significant increase compared to last year's total maritime death toll which stood at 3,149, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday.

Latest drownings in the Aegean Sea on Wednesday and Thursday have contributed to these tragic figures, with the number of deaths in the Eastern Mediterranean route now totaling 435 this year.

According to IOM, the number of deaths off Greek islands, especially Lesvos and Samos, have surged with the arrival of cold weather that combined with bad conditions and rough seas, making sea searches increasingly difficult.

Despite these adverse conditions, daily arrivals of migrants and refugees are continuing at high levels, with 6,637 migrants reaching Greek shores on Oct. 27 and a further 6,635 the next day.

Source: MENA