Death toll from migrant rush into Spanish enclave in North Africa rises to 72
The death toll from a mass rush of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week reached at least 72 on Sunday, as five more bodies were found along the North African coast, officials said.
A death toll of 72 migrants who crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, has been reported, marking a significant increase from the initial estimate given by Moroccan authorities. Over 50,000 individuals made the perilous journey by land and sea in an unprecedented surge that began on Thursday. The majority of those who crossed—more than 48,000—returned to Morocco within 48 hours, and this number continued to rise over the weekend. In addition to the 72 fatalities, over 1,000 people were treated by health services.
Miguel Angel Perez, the Spanish government representative in Ceuta, stated that the situation in the enclave had improved, although more work was needed to restore normalcy. The victims were found drowned or crushed while attempting to climb a breakwater or a border fence. Some migrants were driven by economic hardship and encouraged by rumors spread on social media.
Moroccan officials reported 11 deaths, primarily by drowning, and blamed the crisis on social media misinformation, human trafficking networks, and an incorrect interpretation of a Spanish regulation that prohibits the immediate return of intercepted migrants at sea. The Spanish Foreign Ministry echoed similar concerns. Moroccan authorities claimed that 40,000 people attempted the crossing, compared to the 50,000 indicated by Spanish officials, and noted that 1,135 were prevented from entering Melilla, another Spanish enclave.
Karima Abenaz, a French national living in Ceuta, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life, calling the deaths at sea unacceptable. Ceuta leader Juan Jesus Vivas reported that the city's morgue received 88 corpses, including victims from previous small-scale attempts to reach Ceuta in recent weeks. Moroccan authorities were also recovering bodies from the sea, although no official numbers were disclosed.
In response to the crisis, authorities have reinforced police and army patrols, and a 500-meter floating barrier was installed off Ceuta on Saturday. In addition, 22 European Union member states requested coordinated action to protect external borders and other measures following the incident. Italy suspended Schengen travel arrangements with Spain for one month.
Spain has adopted a more lenient approach towards migrants than many other EU countries, implementing a program to grant residency to over half a million undocumented individuals. However, Spain rejected suggestions that this program contributed to the surge in migrants attempting to enter Ceuta, stating that irregular entrants could not travel beyond the enclave into mainland Spain or other Schengen zone locations.
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