Death toll climbs to 67 after more than 50,000 migrants swim from Morocco to Ceuta

The crossing

Between Thursday and early Saturday, more than 50,000 people entered the water from the Moroccan coast near Castillejos, aiming to reach Ceuta by swimming around the Tarajal border breakwater. The surge overwhelmed the enclave, though security forces later stemmed the irregular entries with support from the army and Moroccan authorities.

I lament the tragic human losses, a drama that reaffirms the urgency of combating the mafias.

Toll rises

Bodies were recovered steadily from Friday afternoon, when 57 corpses had been retrieved, to 67 by 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The search zone is concentrated around the Tarajal breakwater. With the latest finds, the number of migrants who have drowned trying to swim to Ceuta so far in 2026 reached at least 99, compared with 46 for the whole of 2025. The count of recovered remains is expected to rise as the Guardia Civil’s maritime units continue combing the area.

Government response

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska met early Saturday in Ceuta with Government Delegate Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano and National Police and Guardia Civil commanders. A temporary holding area was set up in the port to manage the growing number of bodies pending identification, and forensic specialists are travelling from the Spanish mainland to perform autopsies and support identification.

Migrant movement and returns

President of Ceuta Juan Vivas put the number of arrivals in recent hours at 60,000, while Interior Ministry sources estimated that roughly 25,000 had returned voluntarily to Morocco by midday Friday. The scale of the entry and the high death count have sharpened the focus on the dangerous sea route, which has now claimed 99 lives this year. Authorities do not rule out further bodies being found as the day continues.