Cairo, October 12 (RHC)-- Eleven asylum seekers from Syria and Africa have lost their lives as their boat capsized off the Egyptian port of Baltim. The victims were on their way to Europe when their boat sank on Saturday night, according to security and medical officials.

After the incident, the Egyptian coastguard apprehended 15 survivors, who were identified as Syrians, Egyptian and people of other African nationalities.

In September, the International Migration Organization said 3,092 people have died since January while attempting to reach Europe across the Mediterranean. It said nearly 474,000 people have braved the Mediterranean route for reaching Europe since the start of the year.

The United Nations refugee agency said recently at least 1.4 million refugees will be in Europe by the end of next year. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it predicts the arrival of 700,000 asylum seekers to Europe by the end of this year alone.