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Death toll from migrant rush into Spanish enclave in North Africa rises to 72

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • At least 72 migrants died attempting to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week, with five more bodies found Sunday.
  • Spanish authorities reported over 50,000 crossings, with more than 48,000 returning to Morocco, while Moroccan officials stated 11 deaths and 40,000 crossings.
  • Migrants drowned or were crushed attempting to scale borders, driven by economic hardship and social media rumors, prompting alarm in the EU.

The death toll from a mass migrant surge into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week climbed to at least 72 on Sunday, as authorities discovered five more bodies along the North African coast. This figure significantly exceeds the number reported by Moroccan authorities.

Over 50,000 individuals crossed into Ceuta via land and sea in an unprecedented influx that began Thursday. Spanish officials stated that more than 48,000 returned to Morocco within 48 hours, with additional returns over the weekend. The situation in the enclave has improved, but efforts to restore normalcy continue.

It pains me deeply that young people are dying at sea. It’s not right that, in the year 2026, women with children as young as two months old should be crossing the sea only to die.

— Karima AbenazA French national in Ceuta with family in Morocco, expressing sorrow over the migrant deaths.

Some migrants died by drowning or were crushed while attempting to breach the border fence. Many were motivated by economic difficulties and misinformation spread on social media. Morocco's Interior Ministry reported 11 deaths, primarily from drowning, and stated it was verifying reports of fatalities on the Spanish side. The ministry attributed the surge to social media disinformation, human trafficking networks, and misinterpretations of a Spanish ruling on migrant returns.

Moroccan authorities estimated 40,000 participants, lower than Spanish figures, and reported stopping 1,135 individuals from entering Melilla, another Spanish enclave. The ministry reiterated Morocco's commitment to combating illegal migration and called for shared responsibility in managing the issue. A French national in Ceuta expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, questioning why women and children were undertaking such perilous journeys when Morocco had resources, suggesting internal action was needed instead of risking lives at sea.

In Morocco, there’s food, there’s everything we need. If we don’t have a decent job, we should go ⁠on strike and demand our rights from the government. We shouldn’t be dying at sea, it’s not right.

— Karima AbenazA French national in Ceuta with family in Morocco, criticizing the circumstances driving migrants to risk their lives.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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