49,000 Migrants Cross Into Spain's Ceuta In 24 Hours

Around 49,000 migrants crossed into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco by land and sea within 24 hours, in one of the territory's largest sudden influxes in recent years, Spanish authorities said.

Thousands of migrants were seen swimming into Ceuta on Thursday, while crossings continued overnight. At least 18 people have died in recent days while attempting the dangerous journey, according to current reports.

The surge has placed enormous pressure on Ceuta, whose population is around 83,600. The number of arrivals in a single day was equivalent to more than half of the enclave's population.

Spain has deployed military personnel to reinforce security in Ceuta, while authorities also reported hundreds of attempted crossings into the country's other North African enclave, Melilla.

Spanish officials estimated that around 7,000 of those who entered Ceuta were minors. Most of the arrivals were young men, but women, children and infants were also among those crossing.

Many migrants reached the enclave by swimming around border barriers or entering by sea after border controls became overwhelmed. Spanish and Moroccan authorities were working together to manage the situation and facilitate the return of people who entered illegally.

Ceuta, located on Morocco's northern coast across the Strait of Gibraltar from mainland Spain, is one of the European Union's few land borders with Africa and has long been a major route for migrants seeking to reach Europe.

The latest influx has prompted renewed concerns over border security and migration policy. It also comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding migration in Europe.

The current crisis follows a major surge in May 2021, when around 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta during a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco over Western Sahara.

The recent arrival has also intensified debate over Spain's migration policies and its arrangements with Morocco, while placing additional pressure on local accommodation, healthcare and other public services.