More than 48,000 migrants have returned to Morocco after an unprecedented influx saw about 50,000 people cross into Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta within 24 hours.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said approximately 48,300 migrants had voluntarily crossed back into Morocco by Friday evening, with hundreds more continuing to leave the Spanish enclave. Local authorities, however, estimated that the total number of arrivals may have reached 60,000.

The mass movement began on Thursday, July 30, as thousands of people entered Ceuta by land or attempted to swim around the border barriers separating the territory from Morocco.

At least 57 people reportedly died during the chaotic crossing. Some drowned while attempting to reach Ceuta by sea, while others were killed during crowd surges near the border.

The arrivals temporarily overwhelmed Ceuta, a Spanish territory with a population of about 85,000 people. Spain deployed additional police officers and military personnel to restore order, manage the migrants and strengthen security around the border.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident as a violation of the country’s territorial integrity and blamed human-trafficking networks for encouraging the migrants to make the journey.

Sánchez said criminal networks had taken advantage of a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling restricting the immediate return of migrants intercepted while entering Ceuta by sea.

The Spanish government has announced plans to establish a temporary reception centre where migrants remaining in Ceuta will be registered, screened and assessed. Authorities are also considering legal reforms and the installation of visible maritime boundary markers near the coast.

Moroccan security forces have reinforced their side of the border and worked with Spanish officials to prevent further crossings. Reports that Morocco deliberately opened the border have not been substantiated.

The incident has renewed political debate across Europe over border security, irregular migration, and Spain’s ability to protect the European Union’s external frontiers.

Source: Reuters and Associated Press