TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nearly all of the more than 50,000 migrants who crossed into Ceuta from Morocco this week have returned to the Moroccan side of the border, Spanish officials said, as authorities continued efforts to restore order following one of the deadliest border surges in the Spanish enclave.
As reported by DW, At least 72 people died during the mass crossing on Thursday and Friday, according to Spanish officials. The victims reportedly died from drowning, a stampede near border barriers, and other incidents linked to the chaotic rush into Ceuta.
Miguel Angel Perez, the Spanish government representative in Ceuta, said medical services had treated more than 1,000 people following the border breach. He added that although the situation had improved significantly, the city still needed time to fully recover.
“Ceuta is returning to normal, but there is still work to be done,” Perez said.
Ceuta officials said the majority of migrants who entered the territory had walked back to Morocco by Sunday. The Spanish Civil Guard continued searching coastal waters for possible victims, while authorities maintained increased security measures around the border area.
The Spanish government estimated that between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta during the surge. Morocco, however, said around 40,000 people were involved in the attempted crossings, while more than 1,100 others were prevented from entering Melilla, Spain’s other North African enclave.
As reported by DW, Morocco’s Interior Ministry blamed the crisis on misinformation spread through social media, human trafficking networks, and a Spanish court ruling that restricted the immediate return of migrants intercepted at sea.
Moroccan authorities said 11 people had died during the crossing attempts, including 10 who drowned while trying to reach Spanish territory and one person who died after falling from a rocky area. The ministry said it was still reviewing Spain’s report of 72 deaths.
The border crisis has triggered political disputes in Spain and across Europe, with opposition parties criticizing Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government over its handling of migration.
Conservative People’s Party leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo visited Ceuta and accused the government of failing to prevent the large-scale border breach. Meanwhile, far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal described the incident as an “invasion” and called for stronger border controls.
Abascal also urged the European Union to reconsider agreements with Morocco, while other right-wing European politicians criticized Spain’s migration approach. Italy’s Interior Minister Antonio Tajani was among those calling for a tougher response, as Italy temporarily suspended free movement arrangements with Spain under the Schengen system.
DW noted that the crisis has also intensified debate over Spain’s migration policies. While several European countries have moved to tighten immigration controls, Spain recently announced plans to grant legal status to up to 500,000 undocumented migrants.
Authorities in Ceuta have taken additional security steps following the border surge. Spain deployed more police, Civil Guard personnel, and military forces to the enclave, while a 500-meter floating barrier was installed in coastal waters to strengthen border protection.
Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on Africa’s northern coast, shares a land border with Morocco and represents one of the European Union’s only land entry points from Africa, alongside Melilla. The territory has long been a major route for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
Read: Thousands of Migrants Hide Across Ceuta to Avoid Deportation to Morocco
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