Mediterranean migrant arrivals to Spain topped those to Italy this year through 15 July with 18,016 people coming ashore over the period compared with 17,827 who reached the Italian coast, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
The number of migrants registered as having crossed from North Africa to Spain almost tripled from the same point in 2017 to reach 35 percent of Mediterranean arrivals, according to the UN migration agency, the International Organisation for Migration.
Additionally, nearly 3,000 more migrants attempted to enter Spain irregularly via the country’s African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta, IOM said, citing Spain's authorities.
The number of migrants landing Italy, on the other hand plunged over 80 percent from the same period of last year, IOM said.
The number of migrants who landed in Greece jumped over 50 percent from same point last year to reach 14,678 , accounting for 29 percent of total Mediterranean arrivals by sea, IOM said.
A total 50,872 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea through 15 July - a sharp drop from 109,746 at this time last year and 241,859 at the same point of 2016, according to IOM.
