Some 60,000 migrants entered Spain’s north African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in the space of 24 hours, between Thursday and Friday, leaving at least 34 dead and prompting France to tighten controls along its border with Spain.
Ceuta was struggling on Friday to shelter thousands of migrants, as Spain deployed troops to help manage what quickly became a humanitarian emergency in the small territory. The influx of some 60,000 people was equivalent to around 70 percent of the enclave’s population of nearly 84,000. A steady stream of people entered the Spanish territory overnight from Thursday to Friday by land and sea, with many swimming around the breakwater fence separating Ceuta from Morocco. Police said it was impossible to establish a definitive total, with people still crossing on Friday morning. Many of those who died drowned while attempting to reach the enclave, while others were killed in a stampede near the fence at Tarajal beach, said Rachid Sbihi, who leads a local organisation representing Guardia Civil police officers. Thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, were left without shelter and slept in parks or on pavements, while others wandered through the streets of the enclave.
