One day before the end of the month, a record 984 irregular migrants have entered Malta during July, surpassing the July 2008 record of 809 arrivals.

This year’s July figure contrasts sharply with the figures of the same month last year, when only 94 migrants had arrived.

According to statistics provided by the Immigration Police to this portal, so far this year a total of 16 boats carrying 1,294 irregular migrants entered Malta

In 2012, 27 boats carrying 1,890 migrants were reported to have reached Maltese shores.

The record year was 2008, when 2,195 migrants had come to Malta.

Between 2002 and 2012, 16,390 individuals arrived by boat, mainly from Sub-Saharan countries.