Spain has deployed its military to the North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants overwhelmed the territory's border with Morocco, resulting in at least nine deaths. The Spanish Armed Forces will support the Civil Guard in an effort to restore order, as local officials warned the city could no longer manage the influx. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska are expected to visit the enclave.
The surge marks one of the largest migrant waves to hit Ceuta since 2021, when more than 8,000 people entered the Spanish territory over two days, a situation that triggered a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco.
"The situation is absolute chaos," Rachid Sbihi, who heads an association representing Spain's Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, told The Associated Press. "It's not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing."
Spanish authorities confirmed that at least nine people died on Thursday, though the circumstances were not immediately explained. Bodies were reportedly seen floating in the water as rescue and security operations were underway.
Video footage from the area depicted large groups of migrants entering Ceuta, many by swimming around coastal barriers that separate Morocco from Spanish territory. The majority appeared to be young men, but families with women and children were also observed among those crossing.
Spanish officials stated that Morocco is cooperating with efforts to regain control of the border. Spain's Interior Ministry indicated that Moroccan police have intercepted numerous migrants attempting to cross, and both governments are working to swiftly return those who entered illegally.
While no single cause for the sudden surge has been identified, some Ceuta officials have pointed to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that restricts the immediate return of migrants arriving by sea without due process. However, some migration advocates have questioned whether this ruling alone could account for the dramatic increase, suggesting that many migrants likely would not have been aware of the decision.
The crisis has drawn reactions beyond Spain, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatening to suspend Italy's participation in the Schengen open-border agreement with Spain if necessary "to defend our borders and ensure the safety of our citizens."
Ceuta, a small Spanish territory situated on Morocco's Mediterranean coast, has long been a significant migration flashpoint for Europe. Migrants from various African countries regularly attempt to reach the enclave by swimming from Morocco or by scaling the heavily fortified border fence in hopes of entering the European Union.
Through mid-July of this year, Spanish authorities reported that nearly 3,000 migrants had entered Ceuta by land or sea, figures that have been dramatically surpassed by the recent crossings.