Hundreds of migrants have entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco over the past week, the territory's leader has said; the influx is overwhelming local resources and urges the Spanish government to intervene.
Juan Jesús Vivas called for immediate assistance, noting that the caretaking capacity of reception centres for unaccompanied minors is now several times its intended load.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska is slated to visit Ceuta on Friday to assess the situation and coordinate a response.
Footage on Thursday showed migrants swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar in inflatable rings and other flotation devices, and some ran through a gate in the border fence.
Ceuta sits on Morocco's northern coast and is separated from mainland Spain by about 14 km of sea; it has long been a focal point for migrants attempting to reach Europe.
Sources vary on the number of people who crossed—some estimate between 2,000 and 3,000, while others say “hundreds.” In the past two weeks, more than 1,500 mostly young Moroccan migrants have reportedly reached the enclave.
Vivas warned that over the last months, the bodies of 60 people had been recovered at sea; the emergency has drawn comparisons with the 2021 episode when about 8,000 migrants reached Ceuta during a short period, further inflating diplomatic tensions with Morocco.
The Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla are, together, the EU’s only land border with Africa. Despite increased surveillance, barrier reinforcement, and bilateral cooperation, crossings continue to pose serious humanitarian and security challenges for the region.
