Spain is deploying military forces to the North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants overwhelmed the territory's border with Morocco, an influx that has left at least nine people dead and prompted an urgent security response from the government in Madrid.
The Spanish government said the Armed Forces will support the Civil Guard in restoring order after local officials warned that the city could no longer handle the arrivals. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska are expected to visit Ceuta as the government works to contain the crisis.
The surge represents one of the largest migrant waves to hit Ceuta since 2021, when more than 8,000 people entered the Spanish territory over two days, triggering a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco. That episode has long been seen as a warning sign of the pressure that the enclave can face on Europe's southern border.
The Spanish government delegation in Ceuta said at least nine people died on Thursday, though officials did not immediately explain the circumstances. Bodies were seen floating in the water as rescue and security operations continued. Video from the area showed large groups of migrants entering Ceuta through the Tarajal border area, with many swimming around coastal barriers separating Morocco from Spanish territory. Most of those crossing appeared to be young men, though families with women and children were also among the arrivals.
Rachid Sbihi, who heads an association representing Spain's Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, described the situation as «absolute chaos.» He said: «It's not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing.»
Spanish authorities said Morocco is cooperating with efforts to regain control of the border. The Interior Ministry said Moroccan police have intercepted numerous migrants attempting to cross, and both governments are working to return those who entered the territory illegally as quickly as possible. Officials have not yet provided an exact count of this week's arrivals, with local authorities describing the number of crossings in the thousands.
No single cause for the sudden surge has been identified, though Ceuta officials have pointed to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that limits the immediate return of migrants who arrive by sea without due process. Some migration advocates questioned whether the ruling alone could explain the dramatic increase, arguing that many migrants would likely not have been aware of the decision.
The crisis has also drawn a political response beyond Spain. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy's participation in the Schengen open-border agreement with Spain, saying the move would be necessary «to defend our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens.»
Ceuta, a small Spanish territory on Morocco's Mediterranean coast, has long been one of Europe's most active migration flashpoints. Migrants from across Africa regularly attempt to reach the enclave by swimming from Morocco or scaling the heavily fortified border fence in hopes of entering the European Union. Spain's Interior Ministry said nearly 3,000 migrants had entered Ceuta by land or sea this year through mid-July, before this week's crossings dramatically increased those figures.