At least 72 people died during a surge of migrants into Spain’s Ceuta enclave from Morocco, Spanish officials said on Sunday, although Moroccan officials presented a lower estimate.
Most of the approximately 60,000 people who rushed into Spain’s north African territory — most by swimming — have returned to Morocco since the territory’s largest mass migrant crossing.
“The latest figure that we have is 72,” said the Spanish government’s delegate to Ceuta, Miguel Angel Perez Triano, when asked about fatalities.
Photo: AFP
The previous count was 67 deaths.
Later on Sunday, Morocco’s interior ministry announced its own count, saying 11 people had died trying to reach Ceuta, of whom 10 people had drowned while one fell from a rocky area.
Spanish police and troops patrolled the streets of Ceuta as the enclave largely returned to normal after the sudden mass influx beginning on Wednesday last week.
Only small groups of migrants were still walking around after most who crossed the small border barrier returned voluntarily to Morocco in 48 hours.
“All the children here want to go to [mainland] Spain,” Moroccan Aziz Dabch said.
What was the largest-ever migrant rush into the enclave sparked an international crisis for Spain, as other EU nations criticized Madrid for its immigration policies.
Outside a housing project near Port of Ceuta, Spanish soldiers detained a group of nine migrants who were sitting on the pavement, guarded by troops with an armored vehicle, a journalist said.
Small inflatable boats from a rescue unit scoured the waters around the border barrier that extends into the Mediterranean, where a new 500m feet floating boom reinforced security.
The Spanish Civil Guard were taking migrants off a bus to escort them back to the border post to return to Morocco.
The border crossing was calm, and groups of workers picked up trash, clothes and rubbish left behind during the mass crossing.
Spain has blamed criminal organizations for spreading rumors that a Spanish Supreme Court ruling on immigration would allow migrants easier passage.
Analysts have suggested that Morocco allowed migrants to cross the border to put diplomatic pressure on Spain, which has improved ties with Morocco’s unfriendly neighbor Algeria.
In 2021, about 10,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta as Morocco eased border controls to apply pressure on Spain.
Some of those who crossed the border said they had heard the border was open — a rumor quickly amplified on social media.
The EU said it would hold a conference on Tuesday after 22 member states issued a joint open letter calling for a rapid meeting to coordinate a response, and to prevent more uncontrolled crossings.
Italy on Saturday implemented a one-month suspension of its Schengen agreement with Spain allowing for control-free movement between borders.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in a letter to EU leaders, blasted the “selfish” reaction of some EU countries.
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday spoke to the situation in Ceuta in his daily prayers, saying he was following it “with concern” and hoping for a solution of “peace, stability and justice.”
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