Migrant sea arrivals to Greece declining

BERLIN — The latest on the mass movement of asylum seekers and others seeking refuge in Europe:

2:45 p.m.

An international migration watchdog has reported a "drastic" drop-off in arrivals of migrants across the Mediterranean from Turkey to Greece over the weekend.

The International Organization of Migration said yesterday that 155 migrants reached the Greek islands by sea on Sunday, calling that a "significant" decline in light of more than 100,000 arrivals in all of November.

IOM spokesman Joel Millman says an agency staffer in the region attributed the lower numbers to increased patrols by Turkish authorities in the last few days. Millman said up 3,000 entered Greece on yesterday morning.

UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards also noted a recent decline in arrivals, but said it's too early to determine if that amounts to a trend.

IOM estimates more than 858,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean this year.

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11:20 a.m.

Police in northern Germany are investigating a fire at a multi-family home housing some asylum seekers as a likely arson.

Police told the dpa news agency yesterday that the Monday night fire at the home in the town of Woldegk, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) north of Berlin, appears to have been set in the basement. Thirty-five residents, including 10 asylum seekers, were forced to leave move into temporary shelters. A 76-year-old and a 14-year-old were treated for smoke inhalation.

Police say part of their investigation is determining whether there was a "political motivation" for setting the fire.

Two cars were set ablaze in the town 10 days ago in a case that has not yet been solved.