At least 67 people have died following a massive surge in migrant crossings from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Saturday.
The death toll, which rose sharply from the 18 fatalities reported on Friday, followed the arrival of more than 60,000 migrants who crossed from Morocco into Ceuta overnight on Thursday.
A police source said many of the migrants entered the Spanish territory by swimming around a small border barrier that extends into the Mediterranean Sea.
By Saturday, most of those who crossed had reportedly returned to Morocco as Spanish authorities intensified efforts to manage the unprecedented influx.
Hundreds of men, women and children were seen swimming around the border barrier, with some abandoning flotation devices and clothing used during the dangerous journey.
The sudden influx has triggered an international crisis for the Spanish government, with several European countries criticising Madrid’s handling of the situation.
Spain deployed additional troops and police officers to Ceuta, alongside divers, drones and boats, to strengthen security and manage the border situation.
The crisis has also sparked diplomatic tensions within Europe. Italy called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen open-border zone, prompting Madrid to summon the Italian ambassador and accuse Rome of exploiting the situation for political purposes.
Finland subsequently backed Italy’s call, while France announced plans to tighten controls along its border with Spain.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on X that he had ordered an immediate increase in checks at the Spanish border following the mass crossings.
The latest crisis has drawn comparisons with the 2021 migrant influx, when thousands of people entered Ceuta after Morocco temporarily relaxed border controls amid a diplomatic dispute with Spain.
The situation has also attracted political attention in the United States, with two senior officials in President Donald Trump’s administration using footage of the Ceuta crossings to reiterate their opposition to immigration.
