At least 72 died in Spain's Ceuta migrant rush

At least 72 people died last week when tens of thousands of migrants rushed into Spain's Ceuta enclave from Morocco, mostly by swimming around the border post, local officials said Sunday.

The Ceuta migrant rush marked the territory's largest mass crossing, straining ties between Madrid and Rabat and drawing sharp criticism from European partners.

What happened in Ceuta?

Tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco within 48 hours, many swimming around a border barrier reinforced by a new 500-meter floating boom. Spanish police and troops later patrolled the enclave as most migrants returned voluntarily to Morocco, though small groups remained and were detained by soldiers near the port.

The government's delegate to Ceuta, Miguel Angel Perez Triano, told reporters Sunday that the death toll had risen to 72, up from a previous count of 67. Rescue boats from a maritime unit searched the waters around the border barrier that extends into the Mediterranean Sea. Workers spent the day collecting trash and clothing left behind after the crossing.

Civil Guard officers also removed migrants from a bus and escorted them back to the border post for return to Morocco. Outside a housing project near Ceuta's port, soldiers detained nine tired-looking migrants who sat on the pavement under guard, an AFP reporter said. By Sunday the border crossing had grown calm, a sharp contrast to the chaos of the previous week.

Why are people fleeing to Ceuta?

Spanish officials blamed criminal gangs for spreading false rumors that a Spanish Supreme Court ruling on immigration would make it easier for migrants to cross. Some of those who reached Ceuta said they had heard the border was open, a claim that spread quickly on social media. Analysts also pointed to Morocco's improved ties with Algeria, Spain's regional rival, as a possible motive for loosening border controls.

In 2021, roughly 10,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta after Morocco eased border controls in an earlier bid to pressure Madrid. Moroccan officials have not issued any public statement on the latest crisis. The scale of this month's crossing, estimated at 60,000 people, far exceeded that earlier episode.

How is the EU responding to the migrant crisis in Spain?

The European Union will hold a video call Tuesday after 22 member states signed a joint letter demanding an urgent meeting to agree on a coordinated response. The letter also called for measures to prevent further uncontrolled crossings into Ceuta and other border points. Italy has already suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain for one month, restoring border checks.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez criticized the reaction from some EU governments, calling their response selfish in a letter to European leaders. The crisis has renewed debate over immigration policy across the bloc and tested Spain's relationship with Morocco. Officials in Ceuta said they expect the situation to remain calm as the cleanup continues.