Published on
31/07/2026 - 15:33 GMT+2
Nearly half of the 60,000 migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta since the early hours of Friday have already returned to Morocco, according to Spain's Interior Ministry, as cited by local media.
The estimate covers the period up to 1 p.m. local time on Friday, meaning the number is expected to increase as returns continue. Local media also reported that at least 34 people died while attempting to swim from Morocco to Ceuta.
The mass arrival of migrants has overwhelmed the Spanish authorities and humanitarian organisations in the autonomous city, which has a population of just under 83,000. The latest arrivals come on top of the 1,500 to 2,000 migrants who had already reached Ceuta in recent days.
