Ceuta Death Toll Hits 67 as EU Rifts Deepen Over Migrant Crisis

The death toll from the mass migrant crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has risen to 67, as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the “selfish attitude” of certain EU countries in response to the crisis, according to VRT NWS.

Tens of thousands of migrants surged into Ceuta from Morocco between Thursday 30 July and Friday 31 July, with Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reporting approximately 72,000 total arrivals. The Guardia Civil continues to search for bodies near the Tarajal breakwater, where many migrants drowned attempting to swim around the coastal barrier.

A Crisis Decades in the Making

Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city of approximately 83,000 people on the North African coast, forms part of the European Union’s only land border with Africa. Together with Melilla, it has long been a flashpoint for migration attempts, but the scale of this week’s influx is unprecedented.

According to analysis by VRT NWS, the mass crossing was triggered by a combination of factors: poor living conditions in Morocco, disinformation about a Spanish Supreme Court ruling, and diplomatic tensions between Rabat and Madrid. The court ruling, which found that migrants arriving by sea cannot be summarily returned without due process, was allegedly misrepresented by smuggling networks and amplified on social media, encouraging thousands to attempt the crossing.

Political Fallout Across Europe

Sanchez’s condemnation came in a letter seen by AFP, in which he wrote that such attitudes were “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest” and contrary to European law, human rights, and the solidarity principle. The BBC reported that while most EU governments had shown “support and solidarity,” others had chosen to attack Spain.

The sharpest criticism came from Italy. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that Italy would temporarily suspend the Schengen agreement with Spain, introducing air and sea border checks for one month. “Protecting borders equals protecting citizens, tackling illegal migration and cracking down on criminal networks that ship people,” Meloni said. Finland and Denmark backed Italy’s move, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis urged a temporary suspension of Spain’s Schengen membership.

A coalition of 22 European government leaders, including Belgian PM Bart De Wever, sent a letter to EU leadership implicitly criticizing Spain’s plan to regularize 500,000 undocumented migrants as a “pull factor” for “illegal migration.” Nearly 1.2 million people have applied for the scheme, according to The Guardian.

EU Emergency Meeting

EU interior ministers held an emergency video conference on Tuesday 4 August, convened by Ireland, which holds the rotating EU presidency. Ministers expressed “firm solidarity” with Spain, though no concrete measures were agreed. Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who chaired the meeting, said “everyone has expressed their solidarity with Spain.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote to Sanchez calling for stronger EU external borders, including “vigilant monitoring and the use of physical barriers where needed,” while praising Spain’s “swift handling” of the crisis. The BBC reported that von der Leyen urged the EU to “double down” on preventing irregular migration, strengthening external borders, implementing early warning systems, dismantling smuggling networks, and reinforcing returns.

EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner criticized Spain’s regularisation plan, saying it was “not a good signal, definitely not a good signal for the rest of Europe.” However, he also said the EU had “passed the test” of resilience and that the situation was under control.

Human Cost and Remaining Migrants

Despite the political turmoil, the human cost remains the most sobering aspect of the crisis. According to Al Jazeera, more than 80 migrants died, including some who drowned or were crushed while attempting to cross the breakwater barrier. Spanish authorities reported 75 deaths on the Spanish side, with 11 additional deaths on the Moroccan side.

Between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta as of early August, including approximately 800-1,000 unaccompanied minors. Spain allocated 25 million euros to assist minors in Ceuta, where the official reception capacity for unaccompanied minors was only 29 places. The India Today/Reuters reported that hundreds of migrants set up camp on a beach in Ceuta as local authorities struggled to cope with the thousands still in the territory.

Migrants who spoke to reporters described desperate conditions. “Now it’s very difficult and it’s getting more difficult,” Kamal, a 24-year-old from Sudan, told Reuters. “No food, nowhere to sleep, not even blankets to warm up from the cold. We live in front of the beach.”

Morocco’s Position

A senior Moroccan official told AFP that Morocco had warned Spain the Supreme Court ruling would “create a problem.” Morocco denied that its security forces failed, saying it was “simplistic” to suggest Morocco should have used force against such a large mass of people. Morocco said managing the migration flow costs about 500 million euros per year.

Broader EU Migration Trends

This crisis unfolds against a backdrop of declining irregular migration to the EU. According to Frontex data cited by The Guardian, irregular border crossings fell 26% in 2025 to 178,000 - the lowest since 2021. In the first half of 2026, crossings fell 37% compared to the same period last year to about 49,000.

However, the events in Ceuta have reignited deep divisions within the EU over migration policy. Hendrik Vos, professor of European politics at Ghent University, told VRT NWS that “this illustrates that there is a lot of instability around the European Union.”

Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell went further, saying “European solidarity has died in Ceuta,” according to Cadena SER. He accused Italy of “putting fire to the fuse” and warned that “populist demagoguery” was replacing the rule of law and solidarity between member states.

What’s Next

Spain has begun building an additional floating barrier in the sea near the Tarajal breakwater to prevent further crossings by water, according to Deutsche Welle. The barrier will extend one meter below the sea surface and about 50 centimeters above the water level.

The EU’s next significant moment will be the European Council summit in October, where more concrete measures on migration are expected to be discussed. Meanwhile, the situation in Ceuta remains fragile, with residents described as “sad, helpless, anxious” as up to 5,000 migrants remain in the city.

As the political fallout continues, the fundamental questions remain unresolved: how can the EU balance border security with humanitarian obligations, and how can it address the root causes of migration that drive desperate people to risk their lives in search of a better future?