Ceuta migrant death toll reaches 84 as 50,000 arrivals trigger EU political clash

Rising death toll

At least 67 bodies had been recovered by Spanish divers, Civil Guard and maritime rescue teams from waters off Ceuta by the morning of 1 August, according to Spain's Government Delegation in the autonomous city. Moroccan media later reported the recovery of another 17 corpses along the Moroccan coastline, bringing the total from the latest surge to 84. Including at least 30 deaths recorded by Spanish authorities since the start of the year during similar attempted swims to the enclave, the combined fatality count over the past seven months reaches at least 97.

The instrumental use of irregular immigration by mafias costs lives.

Mass influx and rapid returns

Within a little over 24 hours, about 50,000 people entered Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the North African coast. Spanish interior ministry sources told ANSA that entries were “totally stopped” overnight and returns to Morocco continued without significant incidents, and that almost all of those who crossed have since gone back. The European Commission emphasised that no migrant reached mainland Spain or any other EU country.

Tensions in Ceuta overnight

The night of 31 July to 1 August was marked by unrest. A Moroccan migrant was stabbed in the side during a dispute near the Andres Manjon school; the wounded man was hospitalised while the assailant fled. Dozens of migrants camped outside the overwhelmed Temporary Immigrant Stay Centre (CETI), which is already full, attempted to force their way in by breaking down part of the perimeter fence. National police established a security cordon and restored control. Police sources cited by media said more than 500 people remain outside the centre, with only women and children granted access on humanitarian grounds.

Political fracture in the EU

The crisis quickly escalated into a diplomatic standoff. Italy and Denmark spearheaded a letter signed by 22 EU heads of state and government, not including Spain or France, demanding an urgent extraordinary meeting of interior ministers, an immediate reinforcement of Frontex, and a review of EU cooperation with Rabat. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded with his own letter to Brussels, calling for the same urgent meeting but criticising the 22-country initiative.

The letter reflects an approach marked by ignorance, prejudice and political interests.

Sánchez argued that external border security is a shared responsibility and that frontline states should not be left alone. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accepted the call for an extraordinary summit.

Trump campaign reference

Spanish media reported that former US President Donald Trump seized on the crisis during his election campaign, saying:

We will be like Ceuta if the Democrats win.