A deadly rush by thousands of migrants trying to enter Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta has triggered a dispute over the number of people who died during the attempted crossings.
Morocco’s interior ministry said Sunday that 11 people lost their lives during the surge last week, with most of the victims drowning while trying to reach Spanish territory.
But Spain has reported a much higher figure, saying at least 72 people died in the incident. Human rights groups have also raised concerns that the final toll could be significantly higher, with dozens of people still reported missing.
The mass crossings took place between Wednesday and Friday, when tens of thousands of people attempted to enter Ceuta, creating one of the largest migration emergencies at Europe’s borders in recent years.
Moroccan officials said 10 of those who died drowned, while another person fell from a rocky area during the attempt to cross.
A cross-border investigation is now underway, with Morocco and Spain working together to verify the number of deaths and identify bodies recovered on Spanish territory.
Morocco’s interior ministry blamed the sudden movement of migrants on what it described as the “malicious exploitation” of social media platforms and the spread of false information encouraging people to make the dangerous journey.
Officials also pointed to confusion surrounding Spain’s migration rules, including a recent court ruling that migrants arriving by sea should not be immediately returned in the same way as those stopped after crossing by land.
According to Morocco, around 40,000 people attempted to enter Ceuta illegally, while another 1,135 people tried to cross into Spain’s other North African territory, Melilla. Those attempting to enter Melilla were immediately returned to Morocco, the ministry said.
Spanish authorities said more than 60,000 people managed to enter Ceuta, although most later returned to Morocco.
The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) has challenged the official figures, saying there may have been nearly 130 victims, including many people who remain unaccounted for.
Moroccan prosecutors have opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deadly crossings as both countries face growing pressure to explain what happened during the chaotic migration surge.