The European Union has called an emergency meeting of interior ministers after a mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta left at least 60 people dead and reignited debate over the bloc’s border and migration policies.

The meeting comes as Spain says most of those who entered the North African territory have since returned to neighbouring Morocco.

Spanish authorities said tens of thousands of people crossed into Ceuta over two days, many by swimming around coastal barriers or entering through overwhelmed border points.

The deaths were attributed to drownings and crushing during the unprecedented rush, making it one of the deadliest migration incidents on Europe’s external borders in recent years.

Officials said more than 48,000 migrants had voluntarily returned to Morocco within 48 hours after security forces prevented onward travel to mainland Spain.

Madrid has also installed a 500-metre floating barrier off Ceuta’s coastline to deter further crossings while maintaining that the situation remains fragile.

The crisis has exposed divisions within the EU. Several member states have urged stronger protection of the bloc’s external borders, while Spain has called for greater European solidarity and rejected claims that its immigration policies triggered the surge.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also criticised political attempts to exploit the crisis.

Ceuta, together with Melilla, forms the European Union’s only land border with Africa and has long been a focal point for irregular migration.

The emergency meeting is expected to examine border management, humanitarian concerns and coordinated EU responses as authorities continue monitoring the frontier.