At least nine people died during mass migrant crossings into Spain’s Ceuta enclave
At least nine people have died after thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, triggering a fresh border crisis and prompting Spain to deploy its military to support security forces. The Spanish government announced that the Armed Forces would assist the Civil Guard in restoring order as local authorities struggled to manage the large-scale influx.
The crisis escalated after large crowds breached the border fence and entered Ceuta on Thursday. Authorities described the situation as chaotic, with thousands of migrants crossing into the Spanish territory. Video footage showed groups of people, including young men, families, women and children, entering Ceuta through the Tarajal border area and along nearby breakwaters. Spain’s government also confirmed that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska would visit Ceuta on Friday.
Spain’s government delegation in Ceuta confirmed that at least nine people died during the crossings. While officials did not specify the exact circumstances of the deaths, bodies were reportedly seen floating in the water. Local authorities have stated that dozens of people have died this year while attempting to reach Ceuta from Morocco. Moroccan authorities have not publicly commented on the latest crossings.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said Moroccan authorities were cooperating closely to contain the situation and prevent further illegal crossings. According to the ministry, Moroccan police were stopping numerous people attempting to cross the border, while both countries agreed to work together to facilitate the return of those who entered Ceuta illegally. The ministry, however, said migration alone does not meet the legal criteria for declaring a national emergency.
The latest influx follows a sharp rise in migration attempts into Ceuta in recent days. Regional authorities said reception centres had already exceeded capacity before thousands more migrants crossed the border. The developments have drawn comparisons with the May 2021 border crisis, when more than 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta within two days, triggering a major diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco.
