New York Post, November 17, 2016

A migration organization says that about 340 migrants have died or gone missing in four Mediterranean Sea shipwrecks over the past two-and-a-half days.

Flavio Di Giacomo, Italy spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, says that brings to over 4,500 the number of migrants who have died or disappeared so far this year making the risky sea voyage, the deadliest year on record.

{snip}

Di Giacomo said the toll is increasing this year as smugglers are forcing departures despite rough winter seas.