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- At least 18 people died attempting to reach Spanish territory, according to El País.
- Spain ordered military personnel to Ceuta, with 60 armed forces members deployed to reinforce the Guardia Civil.
- Ceuta’s reception centres were overwhelmed as hundreds of migrants sought shelter, water and medical assistance.
- The crisis triggered a diplomatic dispute with Italy, after Giorgia Meloni and Antonio Tajani criticised Spain’s migration policies.
The migrant crisis in Ceuta has escalated dramatically after more than 1,500 people crossed into the Spanish enclave from Morocco in recent days, with the largest influx recorded on Thursday. According to El País, at least 18 people died attempting to reach Spanish territory.
Spain’s government has ordered the deployment of military personnel to reinforce security, while the crisis has sparked a diplomatic dispute with Italy over migration policy.
Mass crossings by land and sea
The situation intensified on Thursday afternoon when thousands of people headed towards Ceuta. Some entered through the southern border crossing, while others attempted to bypass the frontier by swimming around the breakwater separating the Spanish enclave from Morocco.
Footage from the area showed dozens of migrants, most of them young men and teenagers, arriving exhausted on the beaches. Many celebrated after reaching Spanish soil, shouting slogans, embracing each other and kneeling to kiss the ground.
Earlier in the day, journalists documented piles of flippers, life jackets and wetsuits scattered across Ceuta’s beaches, highlighting the scale of the sea crossings.
🚨Ceuta:
— Electodatos (@electodatos) July 30, 2026
‼️Cientos de inmigrantes siguen entrando sin control en la ciudad. pic.twitter.com/CE20NCV6vo
At least 18 people lose their lives
The human cost of the migrant crisis has been severe.
According to the latest figures published by El País, at least 18 people died while attempting to cross from Morocco into Ceuta.
Many of those who survived arrived exhausted or injured, suffering cuts and bleeding to their legs and knees after climbing over rocks and the breakwater. Others reached the enclave in critical condition as Spain’s Guardia Civil and emergency services focused on treating the injured while struggling to contain the mass arrivals.
🚨 Spain has announced the deployment of its military to Ceuta after thousands of migrants crossed into the North African enclave from Morocco, triggering, what the authorities and people are describing as one of the territory's worst border crises in years.…
— Global News & Geopolitics 🌍 (@GlobalNewsGeo) July 31, 2026
Spain deploys military forces
In response to the escalating situation, Spain’s Interior Ministry announced the deployment of military personnel to the autonomous city.
A total of 60 members of the armed forces will reinforce the Guardia Civil and other security services.
“The armed forces will support the Civil Guard in carrying out its duties and in whatever is deemed necessary to safeguard the security of the city of Ceuta,” the ministry said.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit Ceuta on Friday to assess the situation and coordinate the government’s response.
Reception centres overwhelmed
Migration pressure had already been building in the days before the latest surge.
Ceuta regional president Juan Vivas said more than 1,500 people had arrived within a matter of days, pushing reception facilities beyond capacity.
“The situation was already urgent. Today it is even worse: new arrivals, a lack of resources and lives lost at sea,” he said.
The temporary reception centre could no longer accommodate new arrivals, while hundreds of migrants gathered nearby seeking shelter, water and medical assistance.
Spanish authorities have begun procedures to return those who do not qualify for international protection to Morocco as quickly as possible.
Rumours fuelled the surge
On the Moroccan side of the border, dozens of people, including minors, gathered early near the town of Fnideq after rumours spread that the border would open before dawn on Thursday.
The reports prompted thousands of people to move towards the Spanish enclave.
The scenes echoed the migration crisis of 2021, when more than 10,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta within two days, placing intense pressure on Spanish authorities and straining relations between Madrid and Rabat.
Officials say the current migrant crisis in Ceuta is the largest the region has experienced since then.
Diplomatic dispute with Italy
The developments have also triggered political tensions across Europe.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for the suspension of Schengen rules for Spain, arguing that Italy could not remain passive in the face of the developments.
“Italy will not stand by,” she said, describing the scenes from Ceuta as “shocking”.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also criticised the Spanish government’s decision to grant Spanish, and therefore European Union, citizenship to more than 500,000 undocumented migrants, arguing that the policy encourages people smuggling.
Madrid rejects criticism
Spain responded swiftly to the comments from Rome.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares accused the Italian government of “demagoguery” and described the remarks by his Italian counterpart as inappropriate.
He said Spain expected European solidarity from “a partner and friendly country”, not political rhetoric.
Albares also confirmed that Italy’s ambassador to Madrid had been summoned to receive an official protest over the statements made by the Italian government.
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