MADRID: Nearly 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in one of the largest mass migration attempts in recent years, with at least 34 people reported dead during the crossings, according to Spanish authorities.
Foreign media reported that thousands of migrants attempted to enter Ceuta by both sea and land routes. Spanish officials said the fatalities occurred during the mass attempt to cross the border, while authorities continued to manage the large influx of arrivals.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident as a violation of Spain's territorial sovereignty.
He accused human trafficking networks of encouraging illegal migration by misrepresenting a recent ruling by Spain's Supreme Court.
Sánchez said Spain was accelerating the repatriation of migrants who entered Ceuta illegally and thanked Moroccan authorities for their cooperation in managing the situation.
Ceuta and Melilla are Spain's two autonomous enclaves in North Africa and represent the European Union's only land borders with Africa, making them key entry points for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
More read, More than 500 feared dead after boats sink off Myanmar coast
Earlier, More than 500 people are feared dead after two boats carrying mostly Rohingya refugees reportedly sank off Myanmar’s coast, the United Nations said, describing the incidents as one of the deadliest recent tragedies involving the persecuted minority.
In a joint statement, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said the two vessels, carrying more than 500 people, are believed to have capsized in recent days after departing from Myanmar’s conflict-hit Rakhine State in late June. Most of those on board were members of the Rohingya Muslim minority.
The agencies said some passengers had also left from refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, where more than one million Rohingya refugees continue to live in difficult conditions after fleeing violence in Myanmar.
According to preliminary information, one boat carrying around 250 people disappeared shortly after departure, while another vessel with about 280 passengers is believed to have sunk near Myanmar’s Ayeyarwady coast on July 8.
