Spain's Ceuta population surges by 50% in a day as migrant wave overwhelms city
Photo: Tens of thousands of migrants breached the Morocco-Spain border (Getty Images)
Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta is facing its biggest migration crisis in years. More than 40,000 migrants crossed illegally from Morocco into Ceuta in just 24 hours, according to El País.
Key points:
- Ceuta is under extreme pressure. As many as 50,000 migrants may have entered the Spanish enclave illegally in the past 24 hours, including around 7,000 minors. Army units have been deployed to help maintain order.
- The death toll is rising. At least 27 migrants have been confirmed dead while attempting to reach Spanish territory by swimming from Morocco.
- Spanish authorities have responded. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez traveled to Ceuta to assess the situation firsthand. Police cordoned off the city center ahead of his arrival.
- Melilla is also affected. An attempted border breach was reported in Spain's neighboring North African enclave.
- EU reaction. Finland and Italy have reportedly raised the possibility of temporarily suspending Spain from the Schengen Area over concerns that it has lost control of the EU's external border.
What's happening in Ceuta?
According to reports, more than 40,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain in a single day. Some sources estimate the figure is close to 50,000 equivalent to more than half of Ceuta's population of 83,600.
Around 7,000 of the migrants are minors.
Thousands of people, mostly young men, have filled the streets of Ceuta and spent the night sleeping outdoors. Residents describe the situation as extremely tense. Army units have been deployed to help maintain public order.
Clashes erupted at the Moroccan border after migrants broke through the frontier. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons as crowds forced their way past border fences.
At least 27 migrants have been confirmed dead after attempting to reach Spanish territory by swimming from Morocco.
At the same time, some migrants have reportedly begun returning to Morocco voluntarily or with assistance from the Spanish military through official border crossings.
In Spain's neighboring North African enclave of Melilla, another attempted border breach took place overnight, with 300 to 400 people managing to cross.
Spain's response
Spanish authorities are urgently strengthening security in Ceuta following the mass border crossing.
Military personnel have been deployed to support the Civil Guard, while Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska traveled to the city.
Calls to suspend Spain from the Schengen Area
Italian officials have said the government is considering suspending the Schengen Agreement with Spain in response to the migration crisis in Ceuta.
"Italy will not stand by and do nothing. We are convening the relevant authorities, and following these meetings we are prepared to take action, including emergency measures to protect our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens, such as suspending the Schengen Agreement with Spain. We will not give an inch on illegal immigration," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
Finland's interior minister has also called on European countries to temporarily suspend Spain from the Schengen Area because of the migration crisis in Ceuta.
