At least 18 dead as 49,000 migrants enter Spanish enclave Ceuta

At least 18 people have died after a surge of roughly 49,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, with many drowning or being caught in crushes as they attempted to reach the territory. The mass crossing, which began on Thursday, left thousands of migrants sleeping on streets and in parks, prompting Spanish authorities to deploy additional military and police forces to restore order and provide humanitarian assistance.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is scheduled to travel to Ceuta on Friday morning alongside Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska to assess the situation and coordinate the response. The government’s immediate focus is on securing the border, attending to the injured and deceased, and addressing the urgent shelter and basic‑needs requirements of the displaced migrants.