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| More than 49,000 migrants reportedly entered Spain's Ceuta enclave from Morocco within 24 hours. |
Summary
More than 49,000 migrants reportedly entered Spain's Ceuta enclave from Morocco within 24 hours.
Spanish authorities deployed the military after border police were overwhelmed by the massive influx.
Spain and Morocco have agreed to tighten border cooperation and speed up the return of irregular migrants.
Spanish authorities have reported that more than 49,000 migrants crossed into the North African enclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco within a single day, making it one of the largest mass border crossings in the country's history.Read original
Most of the migrants entered Ceuta on Thursday, July 31, by swimming around a breakwater from Morocco to reach a beach in the Spanish territory. The sudden influx overwhelmed Spanish police officers, prompting the government to deploy the army to restore order.
According to Spain's national security department, the number of arrivals exceeded 49,000. The statement, which was briefly published online on Friday morning before being removed, also confirmed that the bodies of 19 people had been recovered from the sea.
The latest crossing is significantly higher than the peak daily arrivals recorded during Europe's 2015 migration crisis, when large numbers of refugees from countries including Syria and Afghanistan entered the continent through Turkey.
Authorities said the migrants were mainly young Moroccan men, although women, children and people of other nationalities were also among those who crossed into Ceuta.
Fresh attempts to enter the enclave continued on Friday morning, with some migrants trying to climb border fences. The incidents led to clashes with Spanish security personnel.
Meanwhile, thousands of migrants reportedly began returning to Morocco after learning they would not be allowed to remain in Spanish territory, according to Spanish news agency EFE.
In response to the situation, the Spanish government announced that Madrid and Rabat had agreed to strengthen border coordination and accelerate the return of migrants who entered Ceuta irregularly.
Spanish officials blamed organised people-smuggling networks for encouraging the crossings. They said the smugglers were taking advantage of a recent Supreme Court ruling that prevents authorities from immediately intercepting and returning migrants who reach the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla by sea.
