Tens of thousands of migrants breached the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in a surge that overwhelmed local authorities and created ‘absolute chaos’, according to multiple reports. The influx, which began with swimmers and inflatable boats reaching the North African territory, saw thousands cross into the enclave through breakwaters, security fences, and even open gates.

Border Collapse and Security Response

Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spain’s Guardia Civil in Ceuta, stated that the border had ‘totally collapsed.’ ‘It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing,’ he said. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced he would travel to Ceuta to assess the situation, while the Spanish government deployed troops to reinforce security in the enclave.

According to a high-ranking government official quoted by the Spanish newspaper ‘El País,’ the sudden influx caught the government off guard, despite warnings from the National Gendarmerie and regional officials like Juan Jesús Vivas. ‘We had absolutely no information,’ the official admitted. The government was reportedly distracted by severe wildfires on the mainland that required the evacuation of nearly 100,000 people.

Patterns of Migration and Casualties

Video footage from Ceuta showed groups of migrants,mostly young men, but also families with women and children—walking around breakwaters at Tarajal beach. Some shouted ‘Viva España!’ to a freelance photographer. At least three people died attempting to reach Ceuta by sea, according to reports from Sbihi and activists in both Morocco and Ceuta. The New York Times cited a Spanish government source reporting that at least 18 people died during the crossings.

According to T-Online, at least 1,500 migrants reached Ceuta within a few days, with many plunging into the sea to swim across. The images and reports have drawn comparisons to the 2021 migration crisis at the same location. Spanish authorities stated that Moroccan police are stopping ‘numerous people’ trying to cross, and both nations agreed to work together ‘for the return, as soon as possible, of all the people who entered Ceuta illegally.’

Political Reactions and Broader Implications

British politician Nigel Farage issued a warning about the migrant crisis, calling it a ‘battle for the future of our civilisation.’ He criticized the Spanish government, noting that ‘the authorities are seemingly powerless to act’ and that ‘Spain gave an amnesty to half a million people who had illegally entered the country earlier this year.’ He added, ‘The messages from Spain are clear — come in, and you will be allowed to stay.’

According to La Nación, Morocco has not publicly commented on the crossings, and the interior ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Spain’s Interior ministry stated that the Moroccan government is ‘closely cooperating’ to handle the situation. Meanwhile, the Spanish government has not declared a state of emergency, despite the scale of the crisis.

According to the Kronen Zeitung, nearly 60,000 migrants reportedly flooded into Ceuta within 24 hours, before the situation calmed somewhat. The government reportedly ignored several warnings about the influx because it was preoccupied with the wildfires. A government official admitted to El País that if the government had known in advance, ‘so many people would not have entered the country.’