Ceuta's leader says thousands of migrants remain in the Spanish territory after around 78,000 crossed from neighbouring Morocco, with 100 reported deaths.
Key facts
- Up to 5,000 migrants are still in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, according to its leader.
- The mayor-president said 100 deaths occurred as a result of the crossings.
- An estimated 78,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta.
- The EU said Spain has assured that the Schengen area remains safe but warned Europe's borders are 'vulnerable'.
Thousands of migrants remain in the Spanish territory of Ceuta following a major border crisis, according to the enclave’s local leader. The mayor-president said up to 5,000 people are still in the enclave after a surge of crossings from neighbouring Morocco.
The local leader said that 100 deaths occurred as a result of the movement of migrants, which involved an estimated 78,000 people crossing from Morocco, according to the BBC.
Al Jazeera reported that Ceuta’s leader put the number of migrants still in the enclave at up to 5,000, following the migrant surge from Morocco.
In response to the crisis, the European Union said Spain had assured it that the Schengen area remains safe, according to Al Jazeera. However, the EU also warned that Europe’s borders are ‘vulnerable’.
Ceuta is a Spanish territory bordering Morocco, making it a frequent point of migration into Spanish and European territory. The scale of the reported crossings and the death toll cited by the local leader underline the severity of the situation described.
The figures were attributed to the enclave’s mayor-president in reporting by both the BBC and Al Jazeera.
Why it matters
Ceuta sits on the frontier between Africa and Europe, making it a key pressure point for migration into the EU. The reported deaths and the scale of the crossings highlight the human cost and the ongoing challenge of managing Europe's external borders.
Frequently asked questions
How many migrants are still in Ceuta?
According to the enclave's leader, up to 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta following the border crisis.
How many people died in the crossings?
Ceuta's mayor-president said 100 deaths occurred as a result of the migrant crossings from Morocco.
What did the EU say about the crisis?
The EU said Spain assured it that the Schengen area remains safe, but it warned that Europe's borders are 'vulnerable', according to Al Jazeera.