80 Dead in Ceuta Migrant Rush
The death toll from the migrant rush into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta has climbed to 80, with many drowning as they attempted to swim around a barrier in the Mediterranean Sea. Migrants who crossed from Morocco into Spain are facing dire conditions, with hundreds of unaccompanied children among those struggling with limited access to shelter, food, water, and sanitation.
Ceuta authorities have recovered 80 bodies from the sea since the incident began on July 30, according to a Spanish legal body responsible for identification work. Forensics experts have carried out 80 autopsies, identifying four people, and autopsies on the two latest corpses are set to be performed. Morocco‘s interior ministry reported 11 deaths on the Moroccan side of the border, mostly due to drowning.
Spain reports that 70,000 of the estimated 72,000 people who reached Ceuta have returned to Morocco. The remaining migrants, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors, are living in squalid conditions. This crisis has sparked a rift between Spain and some EU nations over irregular immigration policies.
The situation in Ceuta is a continuation of the migrant crisis that has been affecting the region, with previous incidents resulting in significant loss of life.
