Morocco's interior ministry reported on Sunday that 11 people died while attempting to reach Spain's Ceuta enclave last week, a figure lower than Spain's count of at least 72.
Morocco's interior ministry reported on Sunday that 11 people died while attempting to reach Spain's Ceuta enclave last week, a figure lower than Spain's count of at least 72. The ministry said the deaths resulted from drowning and a fall from a rocky area.
Tens of thousands of migrants attempted to cross into Ceuta between Wednesday and Friday, creating a diplomatic dispute among European Union members over Spain's migration policies.
The ministry attributed the surge to the spread of misleading information on social media and to misinterpretations of a July 8 Supreme Court ruling that limits returns of sea‑arriving migrants. Spanish authorities said more than 60,000 individuals entered Ceuta during the same period, most of whom have since returned to Morocco. The Moroccan Association for Human Rights estimated nearly 130 victims and said dozens remain missing. Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident. Spain has faced criticism from several EU states regarding its border enforcement, while Morocco has called for cooperation to verify the death tolls and identify bodies found on Spanish territory.
The differing casualty figures highlight the lack of consensus among EU members on migration management, and the outcome of the investigations remains pending.
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- 8/3/2026, 10:00:27 AM
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