At least 18 Migrants Dead After Mass Crossing into Spanish Enclave of Ceuta

At least 18 migrants died after a large group forced their way across the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, with many fatalities occurring in the water and others in a stampede on the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach. Local officials described the situation as a humanitarian crisis, noting that thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, were sleeping in parks and on sidewalks while aid workers tended to the injured.

Spanish authorities have deployed additional police and are considering an emergency declaration, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska scheduled to visit Ceuta. France’s interior minister announced the activation of a rapid-intervention border force to support Spain’s checks.

Witnesses reported crowds of mostly young men, as well as families with women and children, gathering near the crossing points. Some migrants attempted to return to Morocco after the surge. Moroccan officials have not commented on the incident.

The influx follows a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that limits the immediate return of migrants who arrive by sea, though authorities say the decision does not apply to land entries. Ceuta’s regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, urged the national government to deploy the army to secure the frontier and protect residents.

Migrants typically swim from the Moroccan towns of Fnideq or Belyounech to reach Ceuta, a journey of about three miles. Similar attempts have been made at Spain’s other North African enclave, Melilla, where migrants often try to scale a six-meter fence. The latest wave has heightened tensions on both sides of the border.