Spanish authorities have said about 49,000 migrants crossed into the North African enclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco within a single day, marking one of the largest mass border crossings in the country’s history.
According to Spanish officials, most of the migrants entered Thursday, July 31, by swimming around a breakwater separating Morocco from Ceuta, overwhelming security personnel and prompting the deployment of the Spanish army.
The reported figure is nearly five times higher than the highest single day influx recorded during the 2015 European migration crisis, when hundreds of thousands of refugees entered Europe through Turkey.
A statement briefly published by Spain’s National Security Department, under the Prime Minister’s Office, said more than 49,000 people had entered Ceuta. The statement, posted at about 8:00 a.m. on Friday, was later removed.
Authorities also confirmed that the bodies of 19 people were recovered from the sea during the operation.
Officials said the migrants were predominantly young Moroccan men, although women, children and nationals of other countries were also among those who crossed into the Spanish territory.
On Friday morning, more migrants reportedly attempted to scale the border fences separating Morocco from Ceuta, leading to clashes with Spanish police.
However, Spanish news agency EFE reported that thousands of migrants later began returning to Morocco after being informed they would not be allowed to remain in Spanish territory.
The Spanish government said Madrid and Rabat had agreed to strengthen cooperation and accelerate the return of those who entered Ceuta irregularly.
In a statement, the government said both countries would “strengthen coordination and review measures to enable the return, as soon as possible, of people who have entered Ceuta irregularly.”
Spanish authorities blamed organised people smuggling networks for encouraging the crossings.
They also linked the surge to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that prevents authorities from immediately intercepting and returning migrants who reach Ceuta and Melilla by sea, a decision officials say has been exploited by trafficking networks.
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