Spanish Minister: 80,000 Migrants Temporarily Arrived in Ceuta

Spain's territorial policy minister, Ángel Víctor Torres, reported that an unprecedented influx saw approximately 80,000 migrants temporarily arrive in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The majority of these arrivals, who mostly reached the territory by sea, returned to Morocco within 24 to 48 hours, according to Torres. This figure significantly differs from previous estimates, with Ceuta's regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, previously citing around 80,000 people, while Morocco estimated roughly 40,000 migrants. The perilous journey attempting to reach the enclave, often by swimming, has resulted in dozens of deaths. The official death toll currently stands at 83, a slight increase from previous reports of 82. The surge in arrivals has fueled debate over tightening the European Union's external borders and has exposed disagreements among EU member states. On Sunday evening, around 5,000 Ceuta residents took to the streets, calling for increased government support and stricter border security measures.

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Most migrants returned to Morocco within 24–48 hours.