Deadly surge at the border
At least 72 people died during a mass influx of migrants into Spain's Ceuta enclave last week, local officials said today. Tens of thousands of people rushed into the Spanish territory on the North African coast. Most of them swam around the border post from neighboring Morocco.
The enclave sits on the Mediterranean coast and has long been a flashpoint for migration into Europe. The latest surge began when large crowds gathered at the border and pushed past security forces. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as people climbed over barriers and swam along the shoreline in the dark.
Many of the migrants were young men from West African countries. They had crossed the Sahel and traveled through Morocco before reaching the border. Aid workers said the group included families with children, though single men made up most of the crowd.
Most migrants have returned
Officials estimate that about 60,000 people entered Ceuta during the influx. Most have returned to Morocco since the surge, according to local authorities. Spanish police and military units were deployed to the area to restore order and register those who remained.
The Spanish government set up temporary reception centers and stepped up patrols along the coast. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the situation serious and said Spain would work with Morocco to prevent a repeat. Morocco has not commented in detail on the crossing.
Human rights groups raised concerns about the speed of the returns. They asked both governments to make sure no one was sent back without a chance to seek protection. Spain said it processed claims from those who stayed.
Deaths and calls for answers
The death toll makes the event one of the deadliest migration incidents at a European border in years. Rescue teams recovered bodies from the water and along the shore. Many victims drowned while trying to swim around the breakwater that guards the port.
Aid groups, including the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, urged Spanish authorities to investigate how the deaths happened and to provide care for survivors. Some migrants remain in Ceuta, where officials are processing asylum requests.
The influx has reignited debate across the European Union about border security and how to share responsibility for people fleeing poverty and conflict. Several EU leaders offered support to Spain, while others called for stronger fences and faster returns. The events in Ceuta are likely to shape migration policy talks for months.