Death Toll in Spanish Enclave of Ceuta Rises to 72
The death toll from a mass migration of people from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has risen to at least 72, according to officials. The latest figure was announced on Sunday after five more bodies were found along the North African coast.
The number of fatalities is significantly higher than the 11 deaths reported by Moroccan authorities on Sunday. The Moroccan Interior Ministry stated that most of the deaths occurred due to drowning while attempting to cross into Spanish territory. However, the ministry is still verifying reports of deaths from the other side of the border.
The surge of migrants, which began on Thursday, saw over 50,000 people cross into Ceuta by land and sea. More than 48,000 have since returned to Morocco, with many more following over the weekend, according to Spanish authorities.
Miguel Angel Perez, the Spanish government representative in Ceuta, reported that in addition to the 72 fatalities, over 1,000 people have received medical treatment. While the situation in the enclave has improved, Perez noted that more work is needed to restore normality.
Many of the migrants drowned or were crushed while attempting to climb a breakwater and border fence. Economic hardship and social media rumors are believed to have driven many to migrate.
Moroccan authorities have attributed the rush of migrants to social media misinformation, human trafficking networks, and misinterpretation of a Spanish ruling banning immediate returns of migrants intercepted at sea. The Spanish Foreign Ministry has made similar comments on the matter.
The Moroccan Interior Ministry estimates that 40,000 people were involved in the crossing, a figure significantly lower than the 50,000 reported by Spanish officials. The ministry also stated that 1,135 people were stopped from entering Melilla, another Spanish enclave.
In response to the crisis, authorities have reinforced police and army patrols, and a 500-meter floating barrier was installed off Ceuta on Saturday. Juan Jesus Vivas, the leader of Ceuta, reported that the city’s morgue has received 88 corpses, including some who died in earlier attempts to reach the territory.
Article and image source: allafrica.com
