Thousands of migrants remain in the Spanish territory of Ceuta following a large influx of people last week, according to the territory's leader. Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants are still present, Juan Jesús Vivas, mayor-president of Ceuta, stated.
Last week, an estimated 78,000 migrants from neighboring Morocco arrived by sea in a matter of hours, a surge that resulted in approximately 100 deaths, Vivas told the European Parliament. He expressed his "profound sorrow" over the "irreparable tragedy."
New calls for mass crossings are circulating on social media, according to Moroccan media, raising concerns about future arrivals. The crisis has exacerbated tensions among European Union nations that share open borders and has drawn criticism of the Spanish government's response.
Despite criticism, the EU Commission has commended Spain's "swift response" to the crisis, which included deploying armed forces to Ceuta and its other North African territory, Melilla.
Vivas, a conservative, criticized the national government's response, stating that he had personally informed Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that it was "late and insufficient." He also indicated that the lack of precise numbers for migrants remaining in Ceuta highlights the limited resources available to manage the situation. Local officials had previously issued warnings about an increase in migrant sea crossings, which he claimed were ignored.
Ceuta is a Spanish exclave situated on the northern coast of Africa, bordering Morocco. The territory, along with Melilla, serves as a common entry point for migrants seeking to reach Europe from Africa.
