This year, the deadliest for immigrants in America

The International Agency for Migration (IOM) says 695 people died this year as they crossed the Mediterranean Sea, which continues to be the deadliest immigration corridor. The figure, however, is about a sixth of the deaths in 2016 when about 42,000 people died.

IOM spokesman Joel Milman said that there is not much left behind in the death toll of immigrants to the American continent of 634 victims this year.

Mr. Milman attributes the surprising increase in the mass refugee movement to Venezuela. He told the Voice of America that over four million Venezuelan people have fled their country for the past two years.

Of this year's victims, 227 lost their lives while traveling to the United States. Besides Venezuela, the most common victims are from Latin American countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Ecuador. /voa