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At least 34 migrants die as 60,000 cross into Spain’s Ceuta in 24 hours
At least 34 migrants died attempting to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. In the past 24 hours, some 60,000 people crossed the border by land and sea, and Spain returned 25,000 to Morocco.
At least 34 migrants died trying to cross from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta. Regional President Juan Jesus Vivas confirmed the death toll and said around 60,000 people had crossed the border by land and sea in the past 24 hours.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta on Friday to assess the situation firsthand. Sanchez described the crossings as a “violation of Spain’s sovereignty” and said authorities had accelerated the return of those who arrived this week. Spain’s Interior Ministry reported that about 25,000 people had been sent back from Ceuta to Morocco as of Friday.
Ceuta Civil Guard union head Rachid Sbihi called the situation “a serious humanitarian crisis.” Sbihi told The Associated Press that most of the dead had drowned, while others died in a crush while trying to climb the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach. He said migrants, including thousands of unaccompanied children, were sleeping on pavements and others were wandering aimlessly through the streets.
Tensions at the border
Moroccan authorities deployed water cannon at the Ceuta border gates to push back the crowds. The burned-out remains of a bus and seven cars were visible after clashes. Footage shot on Thursday showed crowds, mostly young Moroccan men, climbing over the breakwaters and walking onto the roads, as well as families with women and small children.
Ceuta and the other autonomous city, Melilla, form the European Union’s only land border with Africa. Migrants typically attempt to swim about 5 kilometres from the Moroccan town of Fnideq or cross the shorter distance from Belyounech.
Court ruling and gang claims
Authorities linked the surge to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling this month that prevents the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea without due process. The ruling does not cover those arriving by land. Sanchez suggested the influx was caused by people-smuggling gangs spreading rumors about the court ruling. In talks with Moroccan officials, he said smuggling gangs had “interpreted the Supreme Court ruling in their own way” and that this interpretation “spread like wildfire in recent hours.”
Activists in Morocco, however, expressed skepticism that the increase was linked to the court ruling, arguing that most migrants would be unaware of such legal decisions.
Reactions from the EU
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the images from Ceuta as “unacceptable.” In a social media statement, she said: “We cannot allow anyone to enter our union without following our rules. Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled and returns must be swift, as our rules permit.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Spain’s intention not to allow undocumented migrants to travel to the European mainland, saying his government was in contact with Madrid. The office of French President Emmanuel Macron also said they were in touch with Spanish and Moroccan authorities and ready to help, if necessary, through the EU border and coast guard agency Frontex. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced he had ordered an immediate reinforcement of controls at the Spanish border on Thursday evening and had activated a rapid reaction border force.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, although Italy shares no land border with Spain, threatened to suspend the Schengen open-border agreement with Spain “to defend our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens.”
Emergency request rejected
Ceuta Regional President Vivas called on the national government to declare an emergency on national security grounds, requesting the deployment of more police and the army to the border.
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