Death toll rises to 18 after migrant crossing surge into Spain’s Ceuta enclave
Ceuta, Spain. The number of people who died while attempting to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday rose to 18, a Spanish Interior Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
Between 2,000 and 3,000 people crossed into Ceuta during the surge, according to Spanish state television TVE.
Crossings by sea and land
Migrants rushed towards Ceuta by sea and land from Morocco. Most of those who successfully crossed appeared to have done so before midday, according to residents of Fnideq, a Moroccan city near the enclave.
Spain deployed military and police reinforcements to Ceuta on Thursday following the surge.
EU land border
Ceuta and Melilla, another Spanish autonomous city in northern Morocco, form the European Union’s only land border with Africa.
Both cities periodically see increases in attempted crossings by migrants seeking to reach Europe.
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