Sanchez is leaving for Ceuta, Italy is considering 'emergency measures'

Civilian guards failed to stop a mass influx of migrants attempting to reach Europe through the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, according to reports marking what officials have described as a complete humanitarian and social crisis. On Thursday morning, hundreds of migrants tried to cross into Spain from Moroccan shores, with many failing in their attempts. The situation has overwhelmed local authorities, who say reception centers are overcrowded and resources stretched thin. The surge began earlier this week, with more than 1,500 migrants arriving by sea over the past few days. According to Euronews, over 800 individuals attempted to swim to Ceuta on Wednesday alone, followed by another several hundred on Thursday. This brought the total number of arrivals to around 2,000 within just a few days. Most of these migrants were adults, though children were also among them. Ceuta lies on the northern coast of Africa, bordering Morocco, making it one of the primary entry points for migrants seeking to enter Europe. The journey from Moroccan shores to the Spanish territory can range from two to five kilometers depending on the starting point. Some attempt to swim from nearby Moroccan beaches, while others try to circumvent the border fence. Many of these efforts end in failure, with some drowning in the process. Rescue operations involving members of the civilian guard, maritime rescue services, and the Red Cross have been ongoing. These groups work to retrieve migrants from the water and transport them to land. However, due to the overwhelming numbers, many new arrivals are forced to sleep outdoors, as accommodation facilities are already at capacity. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska acknowledged during an interview with television station laSexta that the country is facing “exceptional and extraordinary circumstances.” He emphasized that Moroccan authorities continue to cooperate with Spain to curb illegal departures of migrants. Activists from Morocco and Ceuta suggest that the majority of those trying to reach the Spanish enclave are Moroccan citizens, with a smaller number being Algerians living in Morocco who aim to reach Europe. Ceuta, along with Melilla, represents one of the two Spanish enclaves in North Africa and forms part of the European Union’s external border. Due to its proximity to Morocco, it has long served as a key entry point for migrants wishing to reach Europe. While migration attempts typically increase during summer months, officials warn that this year's wave of arrivals is significantly larger than usual. The exact cause behind the recent spike in migration attempts remains unclear. Local authorities in Ceuta have criticized the central government for slow response times, urging immediate assistance. In response, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reportedly plans to visit the area today, pledging to restore normal conditions as soon as possible. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska will accompany him, meeting with representatives of security forces, the military, and local political leaders. The Spanish government has reached an agreement with Morocco regarding the urgent repatriation of individuals who entered illegally. Despite a ruling by the Supreme Court this month stating that those who stopped in the sea during their attempt to reach Ceuta or Melilla could not be immediately returned to Morocco, the Ministry of the Interior accused human trafficking networks of exploiting this loophole to encourage the flow of undocumented migrants. Authorities in Morocco have begun using equipment such as tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds gathered near the border with Ceuta. Meanwhile, the local administration in Ceuta insists on the gravity of the situation and continues to pressure the central government to declare a state of emergency. Early morning hours saw violent clashes at border crossings as groups of people attempted to breach the barrier from Morocco into the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla. From the Moroccan city of Castillejos, groups of people tried to break through the fence and threw stones at security forces stationed in the area. Near the Beni Nsar border crossing in Nador, violent confrontations erupted between law enforcement and hundreds of young people, many of whom were minors, attempting to enter the Spanish city of Melilla either through the border fence or via ports. The Beni-Enzar border crossing, the only operational crossing between Spain and Morocco in Melilla, remained closed since early evening. Patrols from the civilian guard continued to move around the border control area, with some guarding and cleaning paths for large military trucks heading toward the fence. A government delegation in Melilla reported that operations to prevent unauthorized entries were ongoing.