Ceuta Crisis: 69,500 Immigrants Return to Morocco, 67 Deaths Recorded

Approximately 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco from Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous territory in North Africa, over the last 30 hours following a wave of mass crossings last week. Police sources confirmed to the Spanish news agency, EFE, that this figure includes migrants who had entered the autonomous city prior to the mass crossing on Thursday, as well as those estimated to have crossed into Ceuta and returned to Morocco more than once.

On Saturday, Spanish authorities began installing security barricades at the Tarajal border breakwater to prevent further crossings. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior stated that the security system includes a 500-metre-long inflatable barrier, ranging from 30 to 70 centimetres above the water surface, with submerged sections reaching depths of up to one metre. These barricades are combined with anchored buoys provided by the Spanish Navy, while a central gap remains open to allow access for Civil Guard vessels patrolling the border area.

The wave of returns involving hundreds of thousands of migrants to Morocco was triggered by the announcement of a joint repatriation plan between the Spanish and Moroccan governments. Additionally, limited access to basic necessities, such as shops, commercial areas, and eateries in Ceuta, has further encouraged migrants to return. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior noted that the death toll among migrants attempting to reach Spanish territory from Morocco has risen to 67. Previously, on Friday, Spanish authorities estimated that over 49,000 people had crossed into Ceuta by swimming or walking from the Moroccan city of Fnideq. The situation has forced Madrid to deploy additional security forces, including military personnel, to the region.