Morocco and Spain have reported conflicting death tolls from the recent mass crossings into Ceuta, with reports indicating that many migrants died.
On Sunday, Miguel Ángel Pérez, 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.
Moroccan authorities disputed the figures. The North African country’s interior ministry said only 11 people died while trying to reach the Spanish enclave. According to Rabat, 10 of the victims drowned, while an eleventh person fell from a rocky area.
Pérez added that, in addition to the 72 fatalities, more than 1,000 people had received treatment from health services since Thursday.
He noted that the situation in the city had improved markedly but said more remained to be done to restore normality.
According to Spain, at least 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco — more than half the exclave’s population.
Reports said many were driven to migrate by economic hardship, fuelled by rumours circulating on social media.
On Saturday, Spain said almost all of the 60,000 migrants had returned to Morocco.
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 strengthen border security.
