William Spindler

Around 100 people are missing and feared dead after two shipwrecks off Italy, raising the estimated death toll among migrants on the Mediterranean this year to at least 5,000 - a new annual record, UN agencies said Friday.

The death toll on the Mediterranean has nearly matched that of all last year, with more than 3,740 migrants and refugees having drowned on their way to Europe, and perilous winter months still to come, aid agencies said on Tuesday.

Fatalities among migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe could outstrip last year's total even though total numbers fell in the first nine months of this year, the UN said Tuesday.

"The number of refugees and migrants reaching European shores this year passed the 300,000 mark today," William Spindler, spokesman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), told reporters.

About 140,000 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe by sea in November, which represents "a big drop" compared to October.

Reuters reported this quoting UNHCR, whose official William Spindler told a news conference on Tuesday that the numbers of those crossing, nevertheless, "remain very high."