Spain's Ministry of the Interior revealed that around 49,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco into Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish territory on the North African coast, by land and sea within just 24 hours. This has resulted in at least 18 deaths. The Spanish government has deployed troops and tanks to enforce strict control and is preparing for urgent deportations.
On 31 Jul 2023 GMT+7, Spain's Ministry of the Interior disclosed the latest estimate that approximately 49,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco into Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city located in northern Africa, within the past 24 hours.
Many migrants swam around the wave-breaker near Tarajal Beach, covering about 5 kilometers, while others attempted to walk along the border fence. At least 18 people have died, caused by drowning during the swim and stampedes as crowds pushed to cross the border.
A representative of the local Border Guard Association described the situation as "a severe humanitarian crisis filled with chaos. People continue to flood in. The shelters are overcrowded, forcing individuals, including unaccompanied children, to sleep in public parks or on sidewalks."
To manage the massive influx, the Spanish military deployed soldiers and tanks to surround the connection point at Tarajal Beach to prevent migrants from spreading into the city center and instead direct them to the Tarajal industrial zone, which has large warehouses for containment.
The temporary migrant shelter, originally designed to hold 512 people, is now overcrowded with over 1,000 migrants inside, with thousands more stranded outside. The child and youth care center has collapsed, prompting authorities to open several additional shelters.
Spain's Ministry of the Interior announced it has reached an agreement with Moroccan authorities to promptly "repatriate" all illegal migrants. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the Interior Minister have traveled to Ceuta to personally oversee and manage the crisis in this separated territory.
There is no official explanation from the Moroccan government regarding this large border crossing. However, some Spanish officials suspect it may be related to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that prohibits immediate deportation of migrants arriving by sea without legal procedures. Human rights activists believe most Moroccan migrants may be unaware of this ruling and that the movement may be driven by rumors and mass migration.
Meanwhile, the crisis has affected neighboring European countries. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend the Schengen Agreement, the free travel zone with Spain, to protect Italy's borders and citizens, despite Italy not sharing a direct border with Spain.