Spain, Morocco halt Ceuta crossings after 49,000 breach border in a day

Spain and Morocco reinforced the border fence surrounding the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Friday after an estimated 49,000 migrants crossed into the tiny territory by sea and land in a single day, leaving at least 19 dead bodies in the water and triggering a diplomatic clash within Europe.nbcnews+1

The mass crossing, which Spain described as its worst border crisis since at least 2021, overwhelmed the enclave whose permanent population is roughly 85,000. The influx appeared to halt on Friday after both countries deployed military and police to the frontier, with Moroccan authorities using water cannon to push crowds back on their side of the border.reuters

Chaos and Death at Tarajal Beach

The surge began Thursday when crowds of people, mainly Moroccans but also families with women and children from sub-Saharan Africa, walked around the breakwaters at Tarajal beach and swam from the Moroccan towns of Fnideq and Belyounech. Video footage showed migrants running onto local roads and celebrating their arrival, with some shouting "Viva España!"indianexpress+1

Among the 19 dead, many drowned while others were killed in a stampede at the breakwater fence, according to Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Civil Guard officers in Ceuta. He described the situation as a "serious humanitarian crisis," saying thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, were sleeping in parks and on sidewalks.nbcnews+1

Officials reported that at least 7,000 of those who crossed are minors, and facilities for unaccompanied children were operating at 2,400 percent capacity.v2radio+1

Diplomatic Fallout and Causes

The crisis spread to Spain's second North African enclave, Melilla, where hundreds of migrants also crossed the border overnight, prompting its closure. Warning shots were reportedly fired at the Melilla border.thesun

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend the Schengen free-travel agreement with Spain, calling the situation proof that "uncontrolled illegal immigration poses a concrete threat to the security of Europe's borders." Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called the Italian remarks "inappropriate" and announced he would summon Italy's ambassador in protest.tovima+1

Spanish Territorial Policy Minister Angel Victor Torres pointed to a Supreme Court ruling earlier in July that barred authorities from immediately returning migrants intercepted at sea as a possible catalyst for the surge. Critics have also linked it to the Spanish government's plan to regularize 500,000 undocumented migrants, though authorities have rejected that connection.reuters+1

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was scheduled to visit Ceuta on Friday with Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, as the government pledged to eventually return those who entered illegally while respecting court rulings and migrants' rights.nbcnews+1