Dozens dead in Ceuta migrant crisis
Spain has deployed its armed forces to support police in the North African enclave of Ceuta after a mass influx of migrants from Morocco overwhelmed border controls, triggering a humanitarian and security crisis.
The government said the military would assist the Civil Guard in restoring order, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska travelled to Ceuta to assess the situation.
Local officials described the border as having "totally collapsed" after thousands of people crossed into the Spanish territory in a matter of hours.
Dozens killed in crossings
At least 34 migrants were reported dead during the latest crossings, with Spanish authorities saying many drowned or died during the chaotic attempts to enter Ceuta. Bodies were seen in the water near the border, while others were killed in overcrowded conditions as large groups breached the frontier.
Video footage showed thousands of people, including families with women and children, entering the enclave through the Tarajal area.
Authorities said migrant reception centres had been overwhelmed, leaving hundreds of people sleeping on the streets.
Spain and Morocco coordinate response
Spain's Interior Ministry said Moroccan authorities were cooperating to stem further crossings, with Moroccan police preventing additional migrants from reaching the border. The two countries also agreed to work together on the return of people who entered Ceuta irregularly.
Morocco has tightened security along its northern border, although officials have not publicly explained what triggered the sudden surge.
Political pressure mounts
The crisis has intensified political tensions across Europe. Ceuta's regional government called for a national emergency and requested additional police and military deployments to secure the border.
In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Schengen free travel with Spain, citing concerns over border security, despite the two countries not sharing a land border.
The latest events have revived memories of the 2021 Ceuta migration crisis, when more than 8,000 migrants entered the enclave within two days, sparking a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco.
Spain remains one of the main entry points into Europe for migrants seeking safety or better economic opportunities, with Ceuta and the nearby enclave of Melilla continuing to serve as key migration routes from North Africa.
Source:DailySabah
