The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) announced the registration of more than 176,000 irregular migrants who attempted to enter the territories of the European Union from January to the end of July of this year.

The agency confirmed in a report released on Monday, August 14, that the number of migrants crossing unlawfully this year is the highest since the period from January to July of 2016.

The agency also reported about 24,700 irregular migrants at the European Union’s borders in the month of July alone, an increase of 19 percent compared to the same month in 2022.

The central Mediterranean region accounts for the highest number of crossing migrants, with 89,074 individuals. Most of them arrive on boats from the shores of North African and Middle Eastern countries.