Thousands of Migrants from Morocco Surge into Spain, 18 Dead
The death toll from the mass surge of thousands of illegal migrants into Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city in North Africa, has risen to at least 18 people. During the incident, illegal migrants attempted to cross the border by swimming across the sea or forcing their way through the land border from Morocco.
Ceuta, located on the northern coast of Africa near Morocco, along with the city of Melilla, serves as the only land border between the European Union and Africa. Both cities periodically experience surges in illegal crossing attempts by migrants seeking entry into Europe. According to reports from Spanish local television TVE, as cited by Reuters, between 2,000 and 3,000 migrants successfully entered the Ceuta territory illegally on Thursday (30/7) local time.
According to residents of Fnideq in Morocco, most migrants who managed to cross the border appeared to do so before midday. The area of Fnideq, situated near the border with Ceuta, was flooded with thousands of migrants throughout the night intending to cross.
Among those attempting to cross into Ceuta, which has a population of 85,000, were women and children from Morocco and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Clashes and Crowding
The situation triggered clashes as local authorities attempted to halt the crowds of migrants near the border. Eyewitnesses reported to Reuters that at least one bus and seven vehicles were burnt during the unrest.
A spokesperson for the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday (31/7) that at least 18 people had died in the incident. Previously, nine bodies had been found in connection with the surge.
One illegal migrant recounted being caught in a crush while attempting to cross the border into Ceuta, explaining that people were pushing and trampling one another along the narrow coastal path. “I was afraid for my life,” said the migrant, who requested anonymity.
Spain Deploys Military and Police to Handle Ceuta Situation
Spanish authorities deployed additional military and police forces to the Ceuta region on Thursday (30/7) following the surge in illegal migration. Meanwhile, Moroccan authorities deployed water cannons and strengthened security at the border crossing gates. Moroccan security forces repeatedly repelled migrants attempting to approach the border.
Although the crossing between Ceuta and Morocco has been blocked, groups of migrants continue to move along the coast searching for routes around the border fences, with some preparing to swim across the maritime border.
Reasons for the Sudden Surge
The exact reason behind the sudden surge in illegal migration to Ceuta remains unclear. However, according to reports from Forbes and The Guardian, several factors are believed to contribute to the current emergency. Spanish and European opposition politicians have pointed to the pro-immigration stance of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, citing his government’s policy earlier this year which granted legal status to approximately 500,000 undocumented immigrants in Spain. Meanwhile, several Moroccan government sources have linked the surge to the prevalence of “criminal organisations” within the country.