Spain's Interior Ministry: 25,000 migrants repatriated from Ceuta to Morocco; death toll rises to 34
- Nearly 49,000 migrants crossed in 24 hours... Army supports security forces amid humanitarian emergency
The Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced on Friday the repatriation of approximately 25,000 migrants from the city of Ceuta to Morocco, as the largest wave of irregular migration witnessed by the city since 2021 continues.
The ministry stated that its estimates indicate that around 49,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta over the past 24 hours, an unprecedented development that reflects the escalation of irregular migration waves and doubles the pressure on Spanish authorities.
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Spanish state television quoted official sources as saying the death toll had risen to 34 people who drowned in Ceutan waters while attempting to reach the city, while groups of migrants continue to flood its beaches.
The Spanish government has deployed army units to the city to support approximately 400 officers from the National Police and the Civil Guard, amid ongoing pressure on border areas. French authorities have also strengthened their security presence on the border with Spain in light of developments in the crisis.
In the same context, local authorities in Ceuta warned of deteriorating humanitarian conditions. The city’s government president, Juan Jesús Vivas, announced that Ceuta is facing a “full-scale humanitarian and social emergency,” noting that migrant reception centers have reached their maximum capacity and can no longer accommodate additional arrivals.
He added that the pace of migrant arrivals in recent days has placed unprecedented pressure on accommodation facilities, essential services, and security agencies, as local authorities struggle to contain the repercussions of the continued flow of irregular migration from Morocco.
Footage broadcast by Spanish media showed hundreds of Moroccan migrants reaching Ceuta by swimming across the sea, while others managed to cross border areas, reflecting the sustained pressure facing the city.
The migration wave was not limited to Ceuta; the city of Melilla also witnessed widespread crossing attempts in recent hours, prompting Spanish authorities to raise the security alert level and tighten surveillance measures along the perimeters of both cities, in anticipation of continued migrant influxes.
