Over 60 de@d as 60,000 migrants flood Spanish enclave of Ceuta in 24 hours

No fewer than 60 people have died trying to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta after an estimated 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco within 24 hours, triggering a major humanitarian and political crisis in Spain.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the unprecedented influx as "a violation of Spain's territorial integrity" during a visit to Ceuta on Friday, assuring residents that the government would deploy every available resource to restore order and protect the enclave.

Sánchez blamed human trafficking networks for exploiting a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that prevents the immediate return of migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla.

"That has spread like wildfire during these last few hours through the networks of mafias that traffic in human beings and has produced an avalanche of the characteristics and dimension that we experienced yesterday," he said.

To address the crisis, the Spanish government announced plans to establish a temporary reception centre for the documentation, registration and processing of migrants, while also installing a buoy barrier near Ceuta's Tarajal beach to reinforce the maritime border.

Spain's Interior Ministry said more than 37,500 migrants had voluntarily returned to Morocco by Friday afternoon, as additional police officers and soldiers were deployed to the enclave.

The crisis has also sparked tensions across Europe. Italy temporarily suspended passport-free travel with Spain for one month, requiring travellers to present passports on flights and sea routes between both countries. Italian officials blamed Spain's migration policies for encouraging human trafficking, prompting Spain to summon Italy's ambassador in protest.

The European Commission described the situation as "unacceptable," while Ireland expressed solidarity with Spain and called for an emergency meeting of European Union leaders to coordinate a response.

Moroccan authorities blamed criminal trafficking networks for orchestrating the mass crossings and maintained that Morocco's cooperation with Spain remained strong.

Security officials described the situation in Ceuta as a severe humanitarian emergency, with thousands of migrants, including women and unaccompanied children, left without shelter, sleeping in parks and on streets.

Many of the victims reportedly drowned during the dangerous sea crossing, while others died in a stampede near the Tarajal border fence as thousands attempted to enter the Spanish territory.