At least 57 dead as 60,000 migrants cross into Spain’s Ceuta from Morocco
CEUTA, Spain (Reuters) – At least 57 people have died after some 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta since Thursday, regional authorities said Friday, triggering a humanitarian crisis and diplomatic fallout across Europe.
Ceuta’s regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, said the number of arrivals was equivalent to 70% of the enclave’s population. Spain’s Interior Ministry said an estimated 48,300 of those who crossed had voluntarily returned to Morocco by Friday evening.
Authorities said many of the dead drowned attempting the sea crossing or were killed in a stampede near a breakwater barrier at a border checkpoint. Bodies were recovered on the Spanish side of the border, with officials saying there could be additional casualties on the Moroccan side.
On the Moroccan side of the border, in the town of Bni Nsar, migrants clashed with security forces, throwing rocks and setting police vehicles on fire, local media and rights groups reported. Moroccan authorities responded with water cannon, tear gas and warning shots.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who made an emergency visit to Ceuta, described the crossing as “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.” He said migrant smugglers may have misread a recent Spanish regularization measure for undocumented migrants as a signal to attempt the crossing.
The crisis prompted swift reaction elsewhere in Europe. Italy moved to restrict its open-border arrangement with Spain, and France ordered additional checks along its border with Spain.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Spain’s decision to grant citizenship to more than 500,000 undocumented immigrants had “encouraged human trafficking.” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called the remark “inappropriate” and said he would summon Italy’s ambassador in protest.
