Nearly 991,000 refugees and migrants have entered Europe by land and sea so far this year and the number is expected to reach one million in the coming days, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday.
"We see flows so strong this late in the year that perhaps by Tuesday, perhaps even before then, IOM estimates the 1 million mark will pass ... This is extraordinary," IOM spokesman Joel Millman told reporters. The figure would be at least four times more than for 2014.
There have been 422 deaths at sea since Oct. 16, an average of seven a day, he said. "Obviously this is very alarming and we are not looking forward to a winter like last year. But from what we can see the flows remain robust and dangerous."
