Over 480 migrants died in Med in 2017 (2)

(ANSA) - Geneva, February 28 - Some 485 men, women and children have died at sea trying to reach Europe this year, the International Organization for Migration said Tuesday. This compared with 425 in the same period last year. Some 16,775 people arrived by sea in Europe up to February 26, just over 80% in Italy (13,457) and the rest in Greece (2,318) and Spain (1,000). In the first 57 days of last year the total was 124,986. Italy is hoping that a recent deal with Libya will curb the wave of arrivals across the Mediterranean.