The death toll in Ceuta has now reached 72 as more bodies are recovered along the coastline of the Spanish enclave in North Africa. Over 60,000 migrants from Morocco have surged into the city in recent days, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. Five additional bodies were found by Sunday, as the enclave struggles to manage the fallout from the unprecedented influx of people.
The surge into Ceuta began on Thursday, and by Sunday, Spanish authorities reported over 1,000 people had been treated by health services. The sudden influx overwhelmed local resources and emergency systems. More than 48,000 of the migrants had returned to Morocco within 48 hours, but the crisis has prompted 22 EU member states to call for coordinated border action. Italy has also suspended passport-free Schengen travel with Spain, and Spanish authorities have responded by deploying a floating barrier along Ceuta’s coast to manage further attempts to cross.
Spain’s government representative in Ceuta, Miguel Angel Perez, confirmed the death toll and said more needs to be done to re-establish normality. While the situation in the city had improved by Sunday, officials warned that the full scale of the tragedy is yet to be determined. The Civil Guard has begun identifying the 72 bodies found so far, using fingerprints and DNA samples. Officials expect the death toll to rise further as more remains are recovered and analyzed in the coming days.
Voices of Concern
Karima Abenaz, a French national with family in Morocco, expressed deep concern over the situation. She said it is not right that in 2026, women with young children are dying at sea while attempting to cross. Abenaz, who has relatives in the region, suggested that people should demand their rights from their governments instead of risking their lives. She pointed out that Morocco, in particular, has the basic resources to sustain its population, and called for greater political action to address the root causes of migration.
Vivas reported that Moroccan authorities were also recovering bodies from the sea, but no official information was being released on the number of deaths from that side of the border. Some of the deaths were due to drowning, while others occurred as migrants were crushed while trying to climb a breakwater and border fence.
Morocco’s interior ministry reported that 11 people died attempting to reach Ceuta, with 10 drowning and one falling from a rocky area. Morocco blamed the surge on the 'malicious exploitation' of social media and 'misleading information,' as well as the 'misinterpretation of legal provisions,' referring to a July 8 Spanish Supreme Court ruling. The ministry stated there had been 40,000 illegal attempts to cross into Ceuta and 1,135 in Melilla, all immediately returned. Spain says more than 60,000 people entered Ceuta, but most have now returned to Morocco. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) claims 'nearly 130 victims,' with dozens still missing. Prosecutors have opened an official investigation into the incident.
The crisis has led to Italy suspending passport-free Schengen travel with Spain, and Spanish authorities have installed a floating barrier off Ceuta’s coast. Naval patrols, including a new 500-metre floating boom, reinforce security around the border barrier extending into the Mediterranean Sea. Spain has blamed criminal gangs for spreading rumors that a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling on immigration would allow migrants easier passage. Some analysts have suggested that Morocco might have allowed migrants to cross the border to put diplomatic pressure on Spain.
The Spanish government has reinforced police and army patrols to manage the ongoing situation. The enclave of Ceuta, along with Melilla, represents the EU’s only land border with Africa. These two cities are frequently subjected to surges in attempted crossings by people seeking to migrate to Europe. Others attempt the shorter distance from the nearby town of Belyounech.