Morocco Says 11 Died In Ceuta Crossing After Spain Puts Toll At 72

Morocco and Spain have offered differing death tolls from the recent mass crossings into Ceuta, with reports indicating that many migrants died.

On Sunday, Miguel Angel ⁠Perez, the Spanish government representative in Ceuta, said the death toll had risen to at least 72, just a day after Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain’s interior minister, said at least 67 people had died while attempting the crossing.

Perez added that in addition to the 72 fatalities, more than 1,000 people had received treatment from health services since Thursday.

Moroccan authorities countered the figures with the North African interior ministry saying that only 11 people died trying to reach the Spanish enclave.

According to Rabat, 10 of the victims drowned, while an eleventh person fell from a rocky area.

Reports said that the mass crossings were driven to migrate by economic hardship and fuelled rumours circulating on social media.
Ceuta is one of the European Union’s only two land borders with Africa.

The mass migration triggered alarm across Europe, prompting EU member states to heighten border security.