Hundreds swim from Morocco into Spain’s Ceuta

Hundreds of migrants have entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco over the past week, the territory’s leader Juan Jesús Vivas said, according to BBC News.

Vivas said the influx was overwhelming resources and urged the Spanish government to intervene. Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is expected to visit on Friday, according to Reuters.

Footage from Thursday showed migrants swimming to Ceuta, some using inflatable rings and other flotation devices. The BBC reported that others ran through a gate in the border fence.

Reports on the scale of the crossing differ. Spanish media estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 people entered Ceuta on Thursday, according to Reuters, though the Guardia Civil had not confirmed that figure; Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE reported that "hundreds" crossed during the day.

RTVE also reported that more than 1,500 mostly young Moroccan migrants had reached Ceuta over the past two weeks, and that Vivas said the bodies of 60 people had been recovered at sea in recent months. According to Reuters, Vivas said the territory was facing a "humanitarian and security emergency" and warned that reception centres for unaccompanied minors were operating at several times their intended capacity.

Ceuta, on Morocco’s northern coast, is separated from mainland Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar and has long been a focal point for migrants trying to reach Europe. The surge has drawn comparisons with May 2021, when around 8,000 people entered Ceuta over several days, worsening diplomatic tensions with Morocco.