Since April fewer than 100 migrants have been killed in their attempt to cross the Mediterranean.
It was then that the EU put in extra naval resources for Operation Triton, a search and rescue initiative along the Italian coast.
This followed a catastrophic week earlier in April in which 1,200 people perished during the crossing. In one capsized smuggling boat, 700 died after being locked in the hold.
In the first four months of 2015, one in every 16 people died. After the emergency measures were introduced, the number fell to one in 427.
Amnesty International said the “dramatic” fall in migrant deaths proved the value of Operation Triton. Portugal and the UK are among the 16 European nations which have volunteered personnel and equipment including vessels and aircraft for the enhanced effort.
The drop in fatalities has occurred despite the summertime swell in numbers attempting the crossing from Africa’s northern coast since the end of April.
Nearly 28,000 people embarked between 1 January and 25 April, while more than 42,000 followed between 26 April and 29 June.
