Chaos in Ceuta: Migrant Death Toll Rises
Morocco's Interior Ministry has released its first official figure of 11 dead, while Spanish sources report at least 72 victims. The crisis has triggered political upheaval within the EU.
Morocco's Interior Ministry has released its first official figure of 11 dead, while Spanish sources report at least 72 victims. The crisis has triggered political upheaval within the EU.
Following an unprecedented wave of migrants who attempted to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in North Africa last week, Moroccan authorities released their first official death toll on Monday, August 3, 2026. According to a statement from Rachid El Khalfi, spokesman for the Moroccan Interior Ministry, 11 people lost their lives. This figure stands in stark contrast to data from the Spanish side, which reports at least 72 dead.
El Khalfi clarified that among the 11 deceased, ten drowned, while one fell from a rocky area. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) claims the number of victims is "nearly 130," with dozens missing, further widening the gap between official and unofficial reports. Prosecutors have launched an official investigation into the events, the ministry added.
The crisis began on July 30, 2026, when, within just a few days, tens of thousands of migrants set out from the Moroccan city of Fnideq toward Ceuta, one of the European Union's two land borders with Africa. The Moroccan ministry reported 40,000 attempts to illegally cross into Ceuta and an additional 1,135 people who tried to enter the other Spanish enclave, Melilla, but were quickly returned to Moroccan territory.
Spanish sources offer significantly higher estimates. According to El Pais, Spanish security sources cite a figure of 67 dead, while the Spanish government's representative in Ceuta, Miguel Angel Perez, speaks of 72 deaths after five more bodies were found off the coast on Sunday. As for the number of crossings, estimates range from "more than 50,000" (South China Morning Post) to "more than 69,000" (Morocco World News) migrants entering the city.
Despite the chaos, the vast majority of migrants were quickly returned. According to Spanish authorities, around 48,000 people were sent back to Morocco within 48 hours, and Moroccan media report that approximately 69,500 irregular migrants were returned in total. Health services in Ceuta treated more than 1,000 people.
In response to the crisis, Spain completed the installation of a 500-meter floating barrier at the Tarajal border crossing on August 2, 2026. The barrier rises 30 to 70 centimeters above the water and reaches one meter below the surface, aiming to make sea crossings more difficult. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez earlier stated that the government had mobilized all available resources and deployed the armed forces to secure the area.
Morocco's Interior Ministry attributes the sudden wave to "malicious exploitation of social media and the spread of disinformation," as well as "misinterpretation of legal provisions." The latter refers to a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court on July 8, 2026, which states that migrants arriving by sea cannot be returned as quickly as others. Rumors on social media, suggesting easier entry, prompted many to undertake the dangerous journey.
The crisis has sparked diplomatic friction within the European Union. Italy has called for Spain's exclusion from the Schengen free-movement zone, a demand supported by some other governments and political figures. However, as reported by Inquirer, such a move is not possible. The Schengen area, gradually built since 1985, is one of the EU's cornerstones, and its rules do not provide a mechanism for expelling a member state. Nevertheless, the call itself highlights deep concerns about migration policies and border security on the Union's southern frontiers.
