Record number of people crossing the Central Mediterranean to the EU

According to Frontex, in the first five months of this year, more than 50,300 migrants crossed the Central Mediterranean route into the EU - the highest number since 2017.

On June 16, Frontex - the European Union's (EU) border and coast guard agency - said that in the first five months of this year, the number of migrants crossing the Central Mediterranean to Europe more than doubled compared to the same period last year.

According to Frontex, during the period, more than 50,300 migrants crossed the Central Mediterranean route to enter the EU - the highest number since 2017.

The Eastern Mediterranean remains the main migration route into the EU, accounting for nearly 50% of illegal entries into the region since the beginning of the year, the agency said.

Meanwhile, the total number of migrants trying to enter EU countries via these routes was 102,000, up 12% compared to a year ago.

According to Frontex, except for the route through the Central Mediterranean, other migration routes into the EU such as the Western Balkans, the Western Mediterranean and West Africa all recorded a decrease in the number of migrants compared to the same period last year, with 25%, 6% and 47% respectively.

The decline was mainly due to prolonged bad weather, which was unfavorable for crossing the sea./.

Phan An (Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

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