Spain has deployed military forces to its North African enclave of Ceuta as an unprecedented wave of nearly 50,000 migrants from Africa has overwhelmed the territory. Residents and business owners have described the situation as an "apocalypse," with streets reportedly filled with migrants, many of whom arrived with nothing.
The surge in arrivals, primarily military-aged men, has led to widespread fear among the local population. Businesses have closed their doors, with owners citing concerns about being overrun and potential looting. "We're scared. The streets are packed. There are no measures in place. It's every man for himself. They're not giving us any help," a restaurant owner told RTVE, a Spanish state-owned media outlet.
Business owners are reportedly taking self-defense measures due to a perceived lack of faith in the police's ability to maintain order. "I'm not opening this afternoon because the situation is extremely tense. The first thing I have to do is protect my business and my family," said Enrique Serrano, a women's clothing shop owner.
Local authorities have deployed 200 specialized police officers and 60 troops from mainland Spain, but these reinforcements have been described as insufficient against the scale of the influx. Migrants have been seen sleeping in the streets and bathing in public fountains. Videos circulating on social media show individuals defecating in public spaces.
Residents are also reportedly confining themselves to their homes, venturing out only for essential supplies. "People aren't leaving their homes, only to buy food and then return. There's a lot of uncertainty," said Sebastián Antón, who works at a local supermarket. He compared the public's response to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many stocking up on food.
The influx follows a recent ruling by Spain's Supreme Court that migrants intercepted at sea attempting to reach Ceuta or the nearby Spanish autonomous city of Melilla cannot be expelled under the enclaves' special border-rejection regime. A spokesperson for Spain's Guardia Civil police noted that while there had been a "slow trickle" of arrivals since the ruling, July 31st marked an "explosion."
