Ceuta, Spain, July 31: At least nine people were killed after thousands of migrants attempted to enter Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco by swimming across the sea and breaching border fences, prompting Spain to deploy its military to restore order.
The regional government of Ceuta requested emergency assistance from Madrid as the situation escalated. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the Interior Minister were scheduled to visit the enclave on Friday to assess the crisis.
Rashid Sebihi, head of the Spanish Civil Guard Association in Ceuta, described the situation as “completely chaotic,” saying the border security system had effectively collapsed.
Videos circulating on social media showed large groups of migrants, including women and children, reaching Ceuta through the Tarajal beach area.
Ceuta authorities confirmed that at least nine people died during the crossing, with several bodies reportedly recovered from the water.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said Moroccan police were also working to stop further crossings, and both countries had agreed to accelerate the return of migrants who entered illegally.
The surge in crossings is believed to have been encouraged by a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that could limit the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea. Many migrants traveled about five kilometers from Morocco’s Fnideq to Ceuta in hopes of reaching Europe.
Ceuta experienced a similar migration crisis in 2021, when around 8,000 migrants entered the enclave within two days during a period of diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco.
