Authorities have characterized the situation as “complete disorder,” “unsustainable,” and “a breach of regulations.”
At least 57 individuals have lost their lives following the entry of tens of thousands of migrants through the Moroccan border into Spain’s Ceuta territory, causing astonishment and discord in Europe.
Initial approximations suggest that around 60,000 individuals crossed into the Spanish enclave in North Africa on Thursday. By Friday evening, an estimated 48,300 had returned to Morocco.
A significant number arrived by sea, swimming the five kilometers from the Moroccan town of Fnideq. Some tried to cross from the nearby town of Belyounech, which is a shorter distance.
Describing his experience, a swimmer in a wetsuit informed France 24 that it took him two hours to complete the journey. Another swimmer remarked, “It was very challenging.”
Among those who crossed, several seemed to be children and unaccompanied minors, prompting a caution from a Moroccan NGO about the dangers of taking children on irregular migration trips.
Spain deployed troops to support police after numerous migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa. This event echoed a similar incident in 2021 when about 10,000 migrants entered the region.
Spanish authorities reported the recovery of 57 bodies on the Spanish side of the border, with the possibility of additional casualties on the Moroccan side. Some drowned, while others were crushed while attempting to climb the breakwater along the border fence.
A Moroccan individual, identified only as Abdelhakim by Agence France-Presse, recounted walking 14 kilometers to reach the Morocco-Spain border and then trying to cross by sea.
He narrated, “I found myself completely submerged and witnessed two men lose their lives before my eyes. That’s when I retreated, thinking about my two children and realizing I couldn’t risk my life.”
Here’s what is known about the events that unfolded and their underlying reasons.
What is Ceuta?
Ceuta, along with the larger Spanish territory of Melilla situated about 400 kilometers eastward, are located on the northern Mediterranean coast at the tip of Africa. These autonomous cities are part of Spain and share the sole land borders between the European Union and Africa.
Both regions occasionally witness increased attempts by migrants seeking to enter Europe, but the magnitude of the influx on Thursday seemed unparalleled.
Ceuta, an 18.5-square-kilometer peninsula with a population of around 83,000 individuals, experienced a surge of 73 percent in population when 60,000 individuals crossed the border in a single day. It is separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar.
In Spanish possession since 1580, Ceuta accommodates a diverse population comprising Christians and Muslims, Spanish and Moroccan inhabitants, and day laborers.
Morocco does not formally acknowledge Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territories and often refers to them as occupied lands.
Why is it a migrant destination?
Spain serves as
