Spanish authorities faced a surge of migrant arrivals on Thursday after large groups swam from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, overwhelming security forces stationed along the Tarajal breakwater.
According to Spain’s Guardia Civil, migrants entered the territory by sea, with officers responding to the influx as people reached the shoreline and border area. While officials did not release an official count, Spanish state broadcaster TVE estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 young migrants crossed into Ceuta. State news agency EFE also reported that some migrants climbed over border fences instead of entering through the water. Reuters was unable to independently verify those figures.
Ceuta, along with the Spanish enclave of Melilla, forms the European Union’s only land border with Africa and has long served as a key entry point for migrants hoping to reach Europe. The latest incident comes after regional authorities reported that more than 1,500 migrants had already arrived in Ceuta by sea over the past week, highlighting the continued pressure on the enclave’s border.
