On Friday, the president of Ceuta's local government, Juan Vivas, told a press conference that approximately 60,000 people had entered the Spanish enclave, a figure he said represents 70% of Ceuta's population. He also lamented the deaths of 34 migrants during the crossing, according to the Keystone-ATS report.
The mass entry, which occurred amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco, has overwhelmed local resources. Ceuta, a small territory on the North African coast, has a population of around 85,000, making the influx proportionally massive.
Spanish authorities have been working to manage the situation, with reinforcements sent to the border. The exact circumstances of the deaths have not been fully detailed, but the incident highlights the ongoing challenges of migration in the region.
This event is part of a broader pattern of periodic surges in migration to Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's other North African enclave, often linked to diplomatic disputes or changes in border enforcement by Morocco.
