Moroccan authorities

Moroccan families are searching for missing loved ones after a surge of 72,000 migrants crossed into Spain’s Ceuta, driven by poverty and online rumors of an open border. Nearly all migrants have returned to Morocco, but many remain missing, and over 80 people died during the crisis. Facebook groups that organized crossings are now being used to track the missing.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez faces criticism from EU leaders over a migration crisis in Ceuta, where 50,000 to 60,000 migrants arrived, causing a humanitarian emergency and sparking debate on migration policies. Sanchez defends his approach, citing coordination with Moroccan authorities and rejecting accusations of weakness in EU border management.

The death toll from a mass migrant rush into Ceuta reached 72 as five more bodies were found, with Moroccan authorities reporting 11 deaths. Around 60,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco, though most returned within 48 hours. The far right has criticized Spain’s immigration policy amid the crisis.

Moroccan authorities have attributed the recent migration surge into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, which saw approximately 60,000 migrants, to social media and human trafficking. The influx has been directly linked to these factors by Moroccan officials.