Thousands of migrants crossed overnight from Morocco into Spain's north Africa's Ceuta enclave, a police source said on Friday, as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was set to arrive to manage the latest migrant crisis on the border.
In recent days, a total of around 40,000 migrants have crossed into the territory -- population 80,000 -- the source added.
The sudden massive influx has sparked a crisis for Spain's government and prompted France to announce tighter checks on its border with Spain.
Madrid has sent troops to boost security in Ceuta. Sanchez and his interior minister were due to visit the enclave's Tarajal border on Friday, the government said.
AFP reporters have seen hundreds of people -- men, women and children -- entering Ceuta by swimming around a border barrier with Morocco to enter the Spanish exclave, discarding flotation rings and clothes used in the risky passage.
