Ceuta, Spain. The death toll following Thursday’s mass crossings into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco rose to at least 72 on Sunday after five more bodies were recovered along the coast, officials said. More than 1,000 people have received health treatment since the crossings began.
Mass crossings and returns
More than 50,000 people crossed into Ceuta by land and sea in an unprecedented surge that began on Thursday at one of the European Union’s two land borders with Africa.
Spanish authorities said more than 48,000 people returned to Morocco within 48 hours, with further returns taking place over the weekend.
Miguel Angel Perez, the Spanish government representative in Ceuta, said the situation in the city had improved markedly, although work was still needed to restore normality.
Fatalities and rescue efforts
Some migrants drowned, while others were crushed as they attempted to climb a breakwater and border fence. Many had been driven to migrate by economic hardship and encouraged by rumours on social media.
Ceuta leader Juan Jesus Vivas told El Pais that the city’s morgue had received 88 bodies, including people who had died in earlier, smaller attempts to reach the territory during hazardous night-time swims over the previous two weeks.
He said Moroccan authorities were also recovering bodies from the sea, but that no official information was available.
Border measures and EU response
Authorities reinforced police and army patrols and installed a 500-metre floating barrier off Ceuta on Saturday.
Twenty-two EU member states sent a letter seeking coordinated action to protect external borders and other measures following the incident. Italy suspended passport-free Schengen travel arrangements with Spain for one month.
