Death Toll Rises to 34 as Sánchez Visits Ceuta Amid Migrant Crossing Surge

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited the north African enclave of Ceuta on Friday as the death toll from a mass migrant crossing rose to 34, with local officials estimating around 60,000 people have entered the territory over the past few days.

Crossing Numbers and Voluntary Returns

Spain’s Interior Ministry said roughly 50,000 migrants had crossed into Ceuta since Thursday, with more than 25,000 voluntarily returning to Morocco by Friday. Ceuta’s leader, Juan Jesus Vivas, said the total crossing figure, around 60,000, represents more than half the enclave’s population. Overnight, chaotic scenes broke out in the nearby Moroccan town of Fnideq, where at least eight vehicles were torched during clashes between migrants and security forces.

Sánchez Calls Situation “Unexpected”

Speaking from Ceuta, Sánchez said the surge broke a pattern of declining illegal immigration seen over the past year and called the situation unexpected, pledging to defend Ceuta’s security as if it were Madrid. He said Spain was working with Moroccan authorities to speed up repatriations and suggested legal changes might be needed following a recent Supreme Court ruling that barred summary returns of migrants intercepted at sea.

European Leaders Clash Over Schengen Response

The crisis triggered sharp reactions across Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her country was ready to consider suspending Schengen cooperation with Spain, a position echoed by Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen and Finland’s Mari Rantanen. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the crossings “unacceptable,” while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Spain to regain control and said he expects Morocco to take back migrants without delay. France offered support through the EU border agency Frontex, and Spanish opposition leaders blamed Sánchez’s migration policies for the crisis.