At least 18 migrants dead as 49K breached border to reach Spain’s Ceuta enclave from Morocco: ‘Serious humanitarian crisis’

At least 18 migrants died as an estimated 49,000 migrants stormed into the tiny Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday — as officials described the border breach as a ‘serious humanitarian crisis.”

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Clashes were reported at border crossings Thursday, with authorities deploying water cannons in a desperate bid to stop the hordes of migrants from reaching Europe. 

Around 49,000 people crossed the border and made their way into Ceuta over the past 24 hours, Spain’s Interior Ministry told reporters Friday.

“It’s chaotic,” said Rachid Sbihi, head of the association that represents Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, who police the border, describing the situation as a “serious humanitarian crisis”

“People are still entering. The reinforcements that have arrived are only helping the injured and other humanitarian efforts.”

Many migrants among the 18 dead have drowned, according to Sbihi. Some were killed in a stampede while trying to cross fences near the Tarajal beach.

Footage captured migrants swimming over from the Moroccan ‌side of the Tarajal border using inflatable inner tubes and flotation devices. Others smashed through a gate in a fence and ran into the city.

Thousands of migrants roamed the streets after entering Ceuta while others slept in parks and on sidewalks.

Most who made the crossing were young men, but there were also families and unaccompanied children. 

“Bye Bye Morocco, hello Spain,” migrants chanted as they made their way into Ceuta, according to AFP.

Ceuta is one of two EU land borders with Africa — and is separated from the Spanish mainland only by the Strait of Gibraltar.

“It was very tough,” Jadid Zacaria told Reuters, describing his plight. “The police tried to stop us. But our will and determination allowed us to come here.” 

Others pleaded with officers in Ceuta not to return them to Morocco. 

“Morocco, no. Morocco, no, please,” scores of migrants begged, as reported by El Pais.

“Not Morocco don’t worry. Nothing about Morocco. Come in, come,” a law enforcement officer reportedly said. 

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Clashes were also reported at the Beni Ansar border point in Melilla on Thursday. That has been the only open crossing between Morocco and the Spanish autonomous city for the last six years.

Spain’s pro-migration Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is set to arrive at 12 noon local time on Friday. 

Cops have been working to clear migrants from Ceuta’s city center ahead of the pol’s arrival, according to RTVE.

“The main streets are overflowing,” one pharmacy manager told the outlet. “A 15-minute journey to work took me twice as long.”

Supermarket worker Sebastian Anton said the shop had to close at 10:30 a.m., just 90 minutes after opening.

“It’s a small store and there were so many people trying to get in,” he said.

“We want to help, but it’s impossible to do it for everyone. I’ve never seen this situation in my life, and I’ll never see it again.”

Local leaders have declared a national emergency — and are calling on the Madrid government to act.

“The Government of Spain is fully committed to providing an immediate response to the situation in Ceuta,” Sanchez wrote on X Thursday.

“We are mobilizing all necessary resources, working with Moroccan and international authorities, and preparing the measures needed to restore normalcy as soon as possible. Now is the time to build solutions, with responsibility and cooperation.”

Alberto Núñez Feijóo — the leader of Spain’s conservative People’s Party, the main opposition — described the situation in Ceuta as “desperate.”

He said the government “cannot look the other way on its obligations because we are facing a national security crisis.”

France is ramping up controls at the Spanish border in light of the migration surge, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has warned her government is “prepared to intervene with extraordinary measures.”

“Italy will not stand by and watch,” Meloni blasted on Thursday.

The latest influx dwarfs the 8,000 migrants that stormed the border in Ceuta over just two days in May 2021. 

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With Post wires