CEUTA, Spain: At least 34 migrants have died after an estimated 60,000 people crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco over the past 24 hours, local authorities said on Friday, triggering one of the largest migration crises in the territory’s history.
The number of arrivals is equivalent to nearly 70 percent of Ceuta’s regular population, overwhelming local authorities and emergency services.
“The situation that Ceuta is going through is absolutely unsustainable,” Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas said.
Border crisis intensifies
The crisis escalated on Thursday and continued into Friday as Moroccan security forces clashed with migrants attempting to reach the Spanish territory.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, speaking during a visit to Ceuta, condemned the mass crossing, calling it “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.”
He blamed human smuggling networks for exploiting vulnerable migrants, saying traffickers deceive young people and often lead them to their deaths, either at sea or while attempting to cross into Spain.
Security forces respond
Television footage showed hundreds of migrants gathered on a hillside overlooking Ceuta before being dispersed with tear gas by Moroccan security forces. Despite the crackdown, others continued swimming across the border into the Spanish enclave.
Meanwhile, many migrants who had entered Ceuta were seen voluntarily returning to Morocco.
🚨🇪🇸🇲🇦 Absolute CHAOS unfolding at Spain’s border…
Hundreds of migrants just flooded El Tarajal, in Ceuta.
Swimming from Morocco, overwhelming security, sprinting through the streets…
Spain’s southern border appears to be WIDE open.
How long before this gets treated like…
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 30, 2026
Moroccan authorities reinforced border security by deploying additional personnel, using water cannons and firing warning shots into the air in an effort to prevent further crossings, according to Moroccan human rights groups.
“Despite the heavy police presence, people crossed through the waterway, while the land border remained closed,” said Achraf Maimouni, a human rights activist based in the Moroccan border city of Fnideq.
He added that migrants detained near the border were transported deeper into Morocco, but attempts to cross were continuing.
Day 2 of the invasion of Spain has started.
The illegal migrants are still pouring over from Morocco and crossing into Ceuta and Melilla by the thousands.
More than 50 000 illegal migrants have broken through the border since yesterday. pic.twitter.com/BduFZguq5i
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 31, 2026
Morocco calls for return of migrants
Morocco’s ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, expressed hope that those who had crossed into Ceuta would voluntarily return.
She described the situation as difficult and said it had unfolded against Morocco’s wishes.
“We have always prioritised legal, orderly and safe migration for all,” Benyaich said, declining to comment on what prompted the mass movement.
Spain’s Interior Ministry says more than 25,000 migrants have returned to Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta following a recent mass border crossing. Authorities said the departures were taking place at a rate of around 150 people per minute as efforts continued to ease… pic.twitter.com/idV6jASYe9
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) July 31, 2026
Ceuta, located on Africa’s northern coast, is one of Spain’s two enclaves bordering Morocco. Migrants often attempt to reach the territory by swimming from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, a journey of around five kilometres, while others cross from the nearby town of Belyounech, where the distance is shorter.
Unrest spreads to Melilla
The migration pressure also extended to Melilla, Spain’s other North African enclave.
In the Moroccan border town of Bni Nsar, migrants clashed with police, throwing stones and setting police vehicles on fire, according to local media and rights groups.
The unrest reportedly left several security personnel injured, while dozens of migrants were arrested during attempts to enter Melilla.
