In just over 24 hours, between 50,000 and 60,000 people entered the exclave, but most have already returned. The night in the city was marked by incidents and tensions, as the tragic death toll rises to 97.
On Thursday, July 31, 2026, tens of thousands of people from Morocco broke into Ceuta, Spain's exclave in North Africa, triggering a humanitarian crisis and serious security challenges. According to various sources, between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants entered the city in just over 24 hours. However, by Friday evening, most had left Ceuta, disappointed and hungry, reports The New York Times.
The exact number of people who crossed the border remains a matter of varying estimates. Italy's ANSA news agency, citing sources from Spain's Interior Ministry, puts the figure at "around 50,000 people who entered in just over 24 hours." On the other hand, India's Hindustan Times reports "approximately 60,000 migrants who entered Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday and Friday."
Even greater discrepancies exist in reporting the number of deaths during the dangerous sea crossing. ANSA cites data from the Government Delegation of the autonomous city of Ceuta in Morocco, according to which diving teams, members of Spain's Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), and rescue services have so far recovered at least 67 bodies from the sea. Hindustan Times, meanwhile, reports 57 deaths, either by drowning or in a stampede. What is certain is that the total number of victims has risen dramatically. ANSA adds that from the previous 30 deaths since the start of the year, the number has climbed to at least 97 migrants who have lost their lives in the last seven months trying to swim to the exclave.
The night of July 31 to August 1 in Ceuta was extremely tense. As reported by ANSA, citing Europa Press, a Moroccan migrant was stabbed in the ribs near the Andres Manjon school. The attacker, also Moroccan, fled before police arrived, and the injured man was taken to the hospital.
Meanwhile, several dozen migrants camping outside the overcrowded Temporary Stay Center for Immigrants (Ceti) attempted to force their way into the facility, knocking down part of the fence. Spain's National Police responded in force, establishing a security cordon and bringing the situation under control. According to police sources, over 500 people are waiting outside the Ceti for admission, with access allowed only to women and children for humanitarian reasons.
Among the thousands who headed to Ceuta was 21-year-old Abdullah Buji, a teaching student from northern Morocco. In an interview with the AP, as reported by Hindustan Times, he explained his motives. "Spain gives you a chance to build your future, unlike Morocco," Buji said. "I'm a talented kid. I just want a chance."
However, his hope quickly faded. "I've spent maybe 14 years studying, but there's nothing at home, and I'd have to work 12-hour shifts for a meager salary. That's why I came here, but I didn't find opportunities here either, so I have to go back," he concluded disappointedly. His story mirrors the fate of the majority: Hindustan Times notes that around 45,000 migrants have returned to Moroccan territory.
According to sources from Spain's Interior Ministry, as cited by ANSA, migrant entries have been completely halted, and departures to Morocco have resumed "without significant incidents." Myriam Cherti, a senior researcher at the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society at the University of Oxford, told AP that the reason behind this mass wave remains unclear.
The events in Ceuta, though geographically distant, are directly linked to the challenges of managing the European Union's external borders, a topic of great importance for Croatia as a Schengen member facing pressure on its own borders.
