Spain is deploying military personnel to Ceuta after thousands of migrants crossed into the North African enclave, leaving at least nine people dead….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Spain is deploying military personnel to the North African enclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants crossed the border from Morocco, overwhelming local authorities and leaving at least nine people dead during the crossings.
The Spanish government announced on Thursday that members of the Armed Forces would be sent to support the Civil Guard in maintaining security in the autonomous city following an unprecedented surge in irregular migrant arrivals.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska were scheduled to visit Ceuta on Friday as the government stepped up efforts to restore order and assess the situation on the ground.
The deployment follows urgent appeals from Ceuta’s regional leaders, who warned that local authorities were struggling to cope after large groups of migrants breached the frontier barrier and entered the enclave.
Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, described the situation as chaotic.
“The situation is absolute chaos,” he told CNN.
“It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing,” he said, adding that the border had “totally collapsed.”
According to local officials, most of those crossing were Moroccan nationals who reached Ceuta by swimming or walking around the breakwaters at Tarajal beach. The group mainly comprised young men, although families with women and young children were also among those entering the territory.
Some migrants were heard shouting “Viva Espana!” as they arrived in Ceuta, while the reason behind the sudden surge in crossings remains unclear.
Authorities in Ceuta confirmed that at least nine people died during Thursday’s crossings. While officials have not disclosed the circumstances of the deaths, bodies were seen floating offshore, adding to the growing number of fatalities recorded this year among people attempting to reach the Spanish enclave.
The latest influx followed an increase in attempted sea crossings earlier in the week, placing additional pressure on Spanish border authorities.
Spain’s Interior Ministry said Moroccan authorities were cooperating closely to contain the situation, with Moroccan security forces intercepting numerous people attempting to cross into Ceuta.
Both governments have agreed to work together to facilitate the return of those who entered the enclave illegally as quickly as possible.
Moroccan authorities had not issued a public statement on the incident at the time of reporting.
The developments have also triggered political tensions within Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned that Italy could adopt “extraordinary measures”, including suspending the Schengen border-free arrangement with Spain, arguing that the surge in irregular migration posed a threat to European border security.
Meanwhile, Sanchez said his government remained in close coordination with Moroccan authorities to restore stability and pledged a swift response to the crisis.
The latest events have renewed debate over migration management along Europe’s southern frontier, with Ceuta and the neighbouring enclave of Melilla continuing to serve as key entry points for migrants seeking to reach the European Union from North Africa.
