Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

People gather on a hilltop near Bab Sebta on the Morocco-Spain border, near Spain's enclave of Ceuta and the Moroccan town of Fnideq on July 30, 2026. Hundreds of people were converging on Morocco's northern town of Fnideq on July 30 evening, following rumours that the border with Spain's Ceuta had opened, according to an AFP journalist. Spain had earlier reported nine deaths after hundreds of migrants entered the north African exclave from Morocco, mainly by swimming. (Photo by Abdelmajid BZIOUAT / AFP)

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785717545923Screen Shot 2026-07-31 at 8.10.43 AM.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">People gather on a hilltop near Bab Sebta on the Morocco-Spain border, near Spain&#x27;s enclave of Ceuta and the Moroccan town of Fnideq on July 30, 2026. Hundreds of people were converging on Morocco&#x27;s northern town of Fnideq on July 30 evening, following rumours that the border with Spain&#x27;s Ceuta had opened, according to an AFP journalist. Spain had earlier reported nine deaths after hundreds of migrants entered the north African exclave from Morocco, mainly by swimming. <em>Photo by Abdelmajid Bziouat/AFP/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>CEUTA, Spain — At least 72 people died during the recent mass influx of migrants into Spain&#x27;s Ceuta enclave from Morocco, Spanish officials said on Sunday, though Moroccan officials later presented a lower estimate.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/7/31/hundreds-of-migrants-flood-into-spain-s-ceuta-exclave-from-morocco-0812">Hundreds of migrants flood into Spain&#x27;s Ceuta exclave from Morocco</a></div><p>Most of the estimated 60,000 people who rushed into Spain&#x27;s north African territory—most by swimming—have returned to Morocco since the territory&#x27;s largest mass migrant crossing.</p><p>&quot;The latest figure that we have is 72,&quot; the government&#x27;s delegate to Ceuta, Miguel Angel Perez Triano, told reporters, when asked about the number of fatalities. The previous toll was 67 deaths.</p><p>Later Sunday, Morocco&#x27;s interior ministry issued its own toll, saying 11 people had died trying to reach Ceuta. They said 10 people had drowned while one fell from a rocky area.</p><p>Spanish police and troops patrolled the streets of Ceuta on Sunday as the enclave largely returned to normal after the sudden mass influx between Wednesday and Friday.</p><p>Only small groups of migrants were still walking around after most who crossed the small border barrier returned voluntarily to Morocco in 48 hours.</p><p>AFP on Saturday saw migrant minors milling around in a disused industrial park in Ceuta, while others dozed on the pavements outside.</p><p>&quot;All the children here want to go to (mainland) Spain,&quot; said one of the few adults at the site, Moroccan man Aziz Dabch, 41.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NAVAL PATROLS </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>What was the largest-ever migrant rush into the enclave sparked an international crisis for Spain, as some of its European partners criticized Madrid for its immigration policies.</p><p>Outside a housing project near Ceuta port, Spanish soldiers detained a group of nine tired-looking migrants who were sitting on the pavement, guarded by troops with an armored car, an AFP reporter said.</p><p>Small inflatable boats from a rescue unit scoured the waters around the border barrier that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, where a new 500-meter (1,640-feet) floating boom reinforced security.</p><p>Civil Guard were also taking migrants off a bus to escort them back to the border post to return to Morocco.</p><p>The border crossing was calm, and groups of workers picked up trash, clothes and rubbish left behind during the mass crossing.</p><p>Spain has blamed criminal gangs for spreading rumors that a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling on immigration would allow migrants easier passage.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RUMORS </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Some analysts have suggested that Morocco might have allowed migrants to cross the border to put diplomatic pressure on Spain, which has recently improved ties with Rabat&#x27;s arch-enemy neighboring Algeria.</p><p>In 2021, around 10,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, taking advantage of Morocco easing border controls as a way to pressure Spain.</p><p>Some of those who crossed the border said they had heard the border was open -- a rumor quickly amplified on social media.</p><p>The EU said it would hold a video call on Tuesday after 22 bloc members issued a joint open letter calling for an urgent meeting to agree a speedy coordinated response, and to prevent further uncontrolled crossings.</p><p>Italy on Saturday implemented a one-month suspension of its Schengen agreement with Spain allowing for control-free movement between borders.</p><p>Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in a letter to EU leaders, blasted the &quot;selfish&quot; reaction of some EU countries.</p><p>Pope Leo XIV on Sunday spoke to the situation in Ceuta in his daily prayers on Sunday, saying he was following it &quot;with concern&quot; and hoping for a solution of &quot;peace, stability and justice.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UEBttREwFxE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Most of the estimated 60,000 people who rushed into Spain's north African territory—most by swimming—have returned to Morocco since the territory's largest mass migrant crossing.</p>

Most of the estimated 60,000 people who rushed into Spain's north African territory—most by swimming—have returned to Morocco since the territory's largest mass migrant crossing.

At least 72 died in Spain's Ceuta migrant rush, Spain says

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At least 72 died in Spain's Ceuta migrant rush, Spain says

Agence France-Presse

Published August 03, 2026 08:43 AM PHT

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Ceuta

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migration

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Agence France-Presse

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