Spain confirmed on Aug. 2, that 72 migrants have died amid a mass influx into its North African enclave of Ceuta, raising the toll from 67 reported late July 31, as tens of thousands surged across the territory’s border with Morocco. Miguel Angel Perez Triano, Spain’s government delegate to Ceuta, provided the updated figure, while an additional 11 deaths were recorded on the Moroccan side of the frontier.
The crisis began Thursday, July 30, and escalated on July 31, 2026, when roughly 60,000 people poured into the city in just 24 hours — a wave equal to 70 percent of Ceuta’s normal population. Regional president Juan Jesús Vivas described the situation as “absolutely unsustainable.” By Monday, August 3, between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in the enclave, Vivas said, while approximately 69,500 had returned to Morocco over the preceding four days — far exceeding initial arrival estimates of around 50,000 to 60,000.
In response to the emergency, Spain installed a 500-meter-long (1,600-foot) floating barrier on Saturday, August 1, along the maritime boundary between Ceuta and Morocco to block future sea crossings. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on August 3 offering support and calling for enhanced border management, and the EU scheduled an emergency video conference of interior ministers for Tuesday, August 4, to address the unfolding crisis.
Drownings and Stampedes Claim Lives
Many victims drowned attempting the crossing, while others perished in a stampede near the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach, Rachid Sbihi of a local civil guard labor union in Ceuta reported. The urban beach, close to a Moroccan border checkpoint, became chaotic as crowds rushed the barrier. By July 31 morning, buoys, shoes and discarded personal items littered the water along the fence line.
Migrants typically swim roughly five kilometers from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, navigating around a border fence that extends into the Mediterranean Sea. Others take a shorter route from Belyounech. Ahmed Karim, a 33-year-old Moroccan who made the crossing due to unemployment in his homeland, said many people harbor dreams of reaching Europe or America but rarely find the opportunity.
Vivas had told reporters earlier on that day that 34 people had perished, though he provided no specifics on the causes of death. The toll climbed throughout the day as authorities tallied casualties.
Overwhelmed Enclave Struggles to Cope
The sheer number of arrivals paralyzed the small territory. Thousands of people, including unaccompanied children, slept in public parks and on sidewalks, while others wandered the streets with nowhere to go, Sbihi said. Military reinforcements deployed to the enclave focused entirely on treating the injured and distributing emergency aid, he added, describing the conditions as chaotic and dire. Sánchez traveled to Ceuta on July 31 and pledged all available government resources to manage the emergency.
Video from Thursday, July 30, showed large crowds — mostly Moroccan nationals — crossing breakwater structures to reach local streets. While the majority appeared to be young men, families with women and small children were also visible. Live footage captured hundreds of migrants assembled on a hillside overlooking Ceuta being scattered with tear gas by Moroccan forces, even as others continued swimming toward Spanish territory.
Moroccan Forces Deploy Water Cannons, Tear Gas
Moroccan police deployed extra officers and dispersed crowds with water cannons and gunfire aimed skyward to halt additional crossings, rights organizations reported. At entry points to Ceuta, officials positioned water cannon vehicles and pushed migrants back. The charred remains of a bus and seven cars nearby testified to earlier violent confrontations with the crowds.
Human rights advocate Achraf Maimouni in Fnideq reported that migrants continued crossing via the sea route even with heavy police deployment. Even so, large numbers of migrants walked back toward Morocco to return home. Spain’s Interior Ministry said approximately 25,000 individuals had been sent back from Ceuta to Morocco by early July 31, with that figure exceeding 48,000 by 6 p.m.
Legal Ruling and Smuggler Claims Clash
Ceuta authorities linked the influx to a recent Spanish Supreme Court decision from July that prohibits immediate deportations of maritime arrivals without proper legal procedures. That ruling does not cover those entering by land or climbing the border fence. Sánchez said trafficking mafias had exploited a self-serving interpretation of the decision that spread quickly. Activists in Morocco, however, doubted the ruling motivated the influx, arguing most migrants would be unaware of such legal nuances.
Morocco’s ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, characterized the situation as difficult and said it unfolded contrary to her country’s intentions, adding that Rabat has consistently supported legal and orderly migration. Ceuta, together with the autonomous city of Melilla, represents the European Union’s only land border with Africa.
European Capitals Issue Sharp Rebukes
The mass crossing provoked strong reactions across Europe. Von der Leyen labeled the images from Ceuta “unacceptable” and demanded an end to dangerous crossings and the dismantling of smuggling networks. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez activated a rapid intervention force for in-depth inspections and tightened checks along France’s border with Spain. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Spain’s commitment to keeping undocumented migrants off the European mainland, while France pledged assistance, including through Frontex.
Germany, Italy and Finland criticized Madrid’s handling of the crisis, and Italy and Denmark called for Spain’s removal from the Schengen zone. Marine Le Pen, France’s far-right leader, claimed Madrid’s policies had facilitated the migrant wave.