Los tres días de horror que acorralaron a Ceuta
La ciudad costera saca los muertos del mar tras el pulso migratorio magrebí que ha puesto a prueba las fuerzas de gobiernos y organizaciones humanitarias
On July 27, Ceuta, Spain's North African enclave, sounded the alarm after weeks of coastal inundations by migrants. Over 1,000 individuals had already washed up on the beach, victims of perilous sea crossings and desperate attempts to reach European shores. The crisis was marked by the death toll exceeding four in seven days, with conflicting reports causing further distress. On Thursday, July 30, the chaos escalated as over 60,000 migrants embarked on the treacherous journey from Morocco to Spain.
The narrow land border separating Ceuta from Morocco, barely visible during low tide, became a focal point of the crisis. Despite the daunting sight of rocks, many brave souls attempted to scale them, often resulting in tragic accidents. Without flotation devices, those who lacked swimming skills rushed towards the border, while others resorted to grasping the hands of their fellow survivors, creating a grim chain of life-saving maneuvers.
In a desperate attempt to manage the overflowing situation, Ceuta installed refrigerated chambers capable of holding 200 bodies. As swimmers returned to their sunbathing, the city's beaches fell silent once more. News of the unfolding tragedy continued to spread, drawing the attention of the world to the harrowing ordeal faced by those seeking a better life in Europe.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
