The number of people who have died during the recent mass migration from Morocco to Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta has risen to at least 67, according to Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
The latest figure is a sharp increase from the 18 deaths reported just a day earlier.
The tragedy followed one of the largest waves of migration in recent years, with more than 60,000 people crossing into Ceuta overnight on Thursday.
Most entered by swimming around the narrow border barrier separating Morocco from the Spanish territory, risking their lives in the Mediterranean Sea.
Scenes from the crossing showed hundreds of men, women and children abandoning flotation devices and clothes as they struggled through the water to reach Spanish soil.
By Saturday, many of those who crossed had already returned to Morocco.
Spanish authorities responded by deploying more troops, police officers, drones, patrol boats and specialist divers to strengthen security around the enclave.
The sudden influx has sparked growing diplomatic tensions across Europe.
Italy has called for Spain to be suspended from the Schengen free-travel area, accusing Madrid of failing to protect Europe’s external borders.
Spain rejected the criticism, summoning Italy’s ambassador and accusing Rome of exploiting the humanitarian crisis for political reasons.
Finland has also backed Italy’s position, while France has tightened border checks with Spain to prevent further movement of migrants.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that additional border controls were ordered immediately.
The latest crisis has revived memories of 2021, when thousands crossed into Ceuta after Morocco temporarily eased border controls during a diplomatic dispute with Spain.
The images from Ceuta have also become part of the wider political debate on immigration, with senior officials in US President Donald Trump’s administration using footage of the crossings to reinforce their tough stance on illegal migration.
