Spain declares emergency as migrant arrivals surge in Ceuta

• Spain has declared a humanitarian emergency in Ceuta after more than 1,500 migrants reached the enclave by sea in recent days.
• Irregular arrivals to Ceuta have risen 149% this year, while 60 bodies have been recovered from surrounding waters over the past year.

Spanish authorities have declared a humanitarian emergency in the North African enclave of Ceuta after more than 1,500 migrants swam from Morocco to the territory in recent days, overwhelming local reception facilities.

Ceuta, a Spanish city on the North African coast bordering Morocco near the Strait of Gibraltar, has experienced a sharp increase in sea crossings as migrants continue attempting to reach European territory.

Ceuta government president Juan Jesús Vivas said more than 1,500 migrants, including adults and unaccompanied minors, reached the enclave over the past several days.

Videos circulating on social media showed large groups of migrants running toward the border crossing after completing the swim from Morocco.

Spain's Civil Guard, Maritime Rescue Service, and the Red Cross said they have recovered 60 bodies from waters around Ceuta over the past year, underscoring the dangers of the route.

Morocco's Royal Navy has also deployed vessels to intercept migrants before they reach Spanish waters.

According to Spain's Interior Ministry, 2,826 irregular migrants arrived in Ceuta between January 1 and July 15, marking a 149% increase compared with the same period last year.

The figures include only those who successfully reached the enclave and do not account for failed crossing attempts.

Ceuta, along with the nearby Spanish enclave of Melilla, has long served as a gateway for African migrants seeking to enter Europe.

The largest recent surge occurred in May 2021, when more than 8,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta within two days, creating one of the biggest migration crises at the Spanish-Moroccan border.