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At least 34 migrants die as 60,000 cross into Spain's Ceuta
At least 34 migrants died attempting to cross from Morocco to Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta. In the past 24 hours, around 60,000 people crossed the border, while the Spanish government sent back 25,000.
At least 34 migrants died in an attempt to cross from Morocco to Spain’s autonomous city of Ceuta in North Africa. Regional President Juan Jesus Vivas confirmed the death toll and said that around 60,000 people had crossed the border by land and sea in the past 24 hours.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez travelled to Ceuta to assess the situation on the ground. Sanchez described the crossings as a “violation of Spain’s sovereignty” and said authorities were accelerating the return of those who arrived this week. By Friday, the Spanish Interior Ministry reported that around 25,000 people had been sent back to Morocco from Ceuta.
Rachid Sbihi, head of the Civil Guard union in Ceuta, described the situation as a “serious humanitarian crisis”. Speaking to the Associated Press, Sbihi said most of the dead had drowned, while others died in a crush as they tried to scale the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach. Thousands of unaccompanied children were among the migrants who slept on pavements, while others wandered aimlessly through the streets, he added.
Border tensions
Moroccan authorities deployed water cannon at Ceuta border points to push back the crowds. Clashes in the area left a bus and seven cars burned out. Footage captured on Thursday showed crowds, mostly young Moroccan men, walking over the breakwaters onto roads, with families including women and young children also among them.
Court ruling and mafia claims
Officials linked the surge in crossings to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling this month that prevents the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea without due legal process. The ruling does not apply to those arriving by land. Prime Minister Sanchez suggested that the influx was fuelled by people-smuggling mafias spreading rumours about the court decision. In talks with Moroccan officials, he said that “smuggling mafias interpreted the Supreme Court ruling their own way” and that this interpretation had “spread like wildfire in recent hours”.
Activists in Morocco, however, were sceptical that the increase was linked to the court ruling, arguing that most migrants would not be aware of such a legal decision.
Reactions from the EU
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the scenes from Ceuta as “unacceptable”. In a social media statement, she said: “We cannot allow anyone to enter our union without following our rules. These dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled and returns must happen swiftly, in accordance with our rules.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Spain’s intention not to allow undocumented migrants to cross into mainland Europe, and said his government was in contact with Spain. The office of French President Emmanuel Macron also said they were in contact with Spanish and Moroccan authorities and stood ready to assist, if needed, through the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced he had ordered an immediate increase in checks at the Spanish border on Thursday night and had deployed the rapid-reaction border force.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, despite Italy having no land border with Spain, threatened to suspend the open-border Schengen agreement with Spain “to defend our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens”.
Call for state of emergency
Ceuta Regional President Vivas called on the national government to declare a state of emergency on national security grounds, and demanded the deployment of more police and military personnel to the border.
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