Death Toll in Ceuta Migrant Crisis Rises to 72

AP

Escorted by the Spanish army, migrants who crossed into Spain return to Morocco.

The death toll from Thursday’s mass migrant crossing into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco has risen to at least 72 after five more bodies were recovered along the city’s coastline on Sunday, officials said.

More than 50,000 people crossed into Ceuta by land and sea in an unprecedented influx that began on Thursday at one of the European Union’s only two land borders with Africa, triggering concern across the bloc. Spanish authorities said more than 48,000 migrants returned to Morocco within 48 hours, with thousands more making the journey back over the weekend.

Miguel Ángel Pérez, the Spanish government’s representative in Ceuta, told reporters on Sunday that, in addition to the 72 confirmed deaths, more than 1,000 people had received medical treatment since Thursday. He said conditions in the city had improved significantly but stressed that further efforts were needed to restore normality.

Many of the victims drowned, while others were crushed as they attempted to scale a breakwater and the border fence. The surge is believed to have been driven by economic hardship, with many migrants reportedly encouraged by rumours circulating on social media.

Ceuta’s regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, told El País that the city’s morgue had received 88 bodies, including some from smaller, earlier attempts to reach the territory during hazardous night-time sea crossings over the previous two weeks. He added that Moroccan authorities were also recovering bodies from the sea, although no official figures had been released.

Spanish authorities have reinforced police and military patrols around the enclave and on Saturday installed a 500-metre floating barrier off the coast of Ceuta to strengthen border security.

In response to the crisis, 22 European Union member states signed a joint letter calling for coordinated measures to strengthen the bloc’s external borders. Italy has also suspended the Schengen passport-free travel arrangements with Spain for one month.



PUKMEDIA