‘Serious humanitarian crisis’ as 60,000 people enter Spanish enclave of Ceuta and death toll rises to 57
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Spain has condemned the “selfish, polarising and unlawful” reaction of certain European countries after an estimated 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco to Ceuta.
The death toll in the Spanish enclave has risen to 77 after chaotic scenes ensued on Thursday and Friday, with a number of people drowning or killed in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier.
Spain’s interior minister told a press conference that “normality is returning” and that the majority of the undocumented migrants had been returned to Morocco.
Italy has suspending the EU’s border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain and strengthened controls along the Franco-Italian land border, with prime minister Giorgia Meloni describing the scenes as “shocking”.
In response, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez said certain European governments had chosen to attack Spain, “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest”.
Donald Trump has also criticised the “catastrophe”, telling a cabinet meeting: “I saw Spain yesterday, and I watched the catastrophe that took place. It looks like an invasion of a country.
“Hundreds of thousands of people. And that same thing’s going to happen to us if the Republicans don’t get elected, except worse, much bigger, much easier to get into.”
Spain insists Morocco is a ‘reliable partner’
Questioned how this massive border breach could have happened given the heavy security on both sides of the border and whether Morocco posed a threat to Ceuta, Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska defended the government in Rabat.
“The events require an evaluation by Spain and Morocco,” he said.
But it was the cooperation with its neighbors that allowed Spain “to revert the situation in 24 hours.”
“Morocco is not a threat to Ceuta, or to the rest of Spain. It is a reliable partner,” Mr Marlaska emphasized.
Holly Evans1 August 2026 15:34
Is it safe to travel to Morocco?
Tensions have risen at the border of Morocco after almost 60,000 migrants attempted to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Thursday.
Although the city sits several hours from tourist hotspots in Marrakech and Fez, holidaymakers may be concerned ahead of visiting the country.
Here’s the latest travel advice for Morocco during the growing border crisis.
Holly Evans1 August 2026 15:05
Spain’s opposition leader says they were ‘aware of the threat’
Spain’s opposition leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo says Spain was “invaded” in a “premeditated occupation of Spanish territory”.
“We were aware of the threat,” he said. “There was an awareness of this from at least the start of the week.”
He added that the territory would be a strategic priority for his party if they should ever take power.
He argued that Pedro Sanches had failed in three areas, including immigration policy, border security and foreign policy.
“A responsible government would never have allowed this point to have been reached,” Feijoo stated.
Holly Evans1 August 2026 14:44
Trump wades into Ceuta ‘catastrophe’ as US blames ‘radical left-wing policies’ for migrant surge
“I saw Spain yesterday, and I watched the catastrophe that took place. It looks like an invasion of a country,” Trump said in a cabinet meeting on Friday.
“Hundreds of thousands of people. And that same thing’s going to happen to us if the Republicans don’t get elected, except worse, much bigger, much easier to get into.”
Read the full article here:
Holly Evans1 August 2026 14:17
PM says UK offering Spain ‘what help we can’
Andy Burnham has said he has spoken to Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez and offered “what help we can” after around 60,000 migrants breached the border of its territory Ceuta in north Africa.
The prime minister was asked for his response to the crisis in the Spanish territory, which borders Morocco, as he attended a rally following Labour’s victory in the by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty on Saturday.
Mr Burnham told reporters: “I have been in touch with the Spanish prime minister and (we are) providing what help we can.”
His brief comments come as Spain announced it was installing a new barrier stretching along the breakwater fence into the sea after around 60,000 migrants breached the border during Thursday and Friday.
Holly Evans1 August 2026 13:57
Ceuta’s leader says ‘this must not happen again’
The leader of Ceuta has stressed: “This must not happen again.”
Juan Jesus Vivas said the territory needs a “border that is fit for purpose” and that “preventative mechanisms” are needed.
“Ceuta is not back to normal yet,” he warned, ,but added that “congratulations are in order” for the huge number of migrants who have since been returned to Morocco.
Holly Evans1 August 2026 13:50
Giorgia Meloni calls for action in strengthening European response to illegal migration
In her latest criticism of the situation, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said: “The images arriving from Ceuta have once again demonstrated how urgent it is for Europe to respond to illegal immigration.
“This is why Italy has promoted, together with Denmark, a letter signed by 22 EU Member States, which calls for joint action to strengthen external borders, combat irregular immigration, fight human traffickers, make returns more effective, and eliminate any factor that could incentivize new illegal entries.”
She added that her country’s hardline stance on immigration was now being shared by an increasing number of European countries.
Holly Evans1 August 2026 13:40
Spain rejects suggestion country’s stance had encouraged mass influx into Ceuta
Madrid said the people who entered Ceuta irregularly could not travel onwards to mainland Spain or elsewhere in the Schengen zone.
In a statement, the foreign ministry added that travellers leaving Ceuta by sea or air undergo police identity checks, representing a second layer of control after the land border with Morocco.
In contrast to most of Europe, Spain has adopted a more open stance on migrants, introducing a programme to grant residency to more than half a million undocumented people.
But it has rejected suggestions that the regularisation scheme had encouraged the rush into Ceuta, saying applicants must prove residence in Spain before January 1, 2026, and five continuous months of residence when applying.
Holly Evans1 August 2026 13:20
EU governments call for emergency meeting
Ceuta and Spain’s other North African enclave, Melilla, sit on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast and periodically face attempted crossings by migrants seeking to reach Europe.
The latest attempt caused division in the EU, with several countries calling for Spain to ensure that the incident was contained.
Twenty-two EU governments called on Saturday for an emergency meeting of interior ministers over the Ceuta crisis, urging the bloc to help Madrid regain control of its border with Morocco.
Meanwhile, Spain’s centre-left prime minister Pedro Sanchez also asked EU leaders to convene interior ministers urgently, but criticised governments that had called for Spain’s exclusion from the bloc’s passport-free Schengen travel area.
Holly Evans1 August 2026 13:00
How arrival of 60,000 migrants into Spanish enclave could affect mainland Europe and the UK
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez described the inflow of people as “an attack on Spain’s territorial integrity” and promised to “use all the resources of the state to guarantee security and coexistence”.
Leaders across Europe, including president of the EU commission Ursula von der Leyen, have called for swift returns of migrants back to Morocco. UK prime minister Andy Burnham described the chaotic scenes of migrants scrambling onto the shores as a “cause for concern” and said the UK had contacted Madrid to understand the implications and provide support.
Read the full analysis from our home affairs correspondent Holly Bancroft here:
Holly Evans1 August 2026 12:40
