Nearly 49,000 migrants cross into Spain’s Ceuta in 24 hours, ministry says

BASRA, Iraq — MADRID — Spain’s Interior Ministry said Friday that approximately 49,000 irregular migrants reached the North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco over a 24-hour period. The ministry said the migrants traveled by sea and land and crossed the border into Spanish territory. Spanish law enforcement sources said more than 20,000 of those who entered were Moroccan nationals, walking across the land border without encountering resistance from Moroccan security forces. Spanish media reported that migrants bypassed wave barriers at the Tarajal border area in family groups, with the Guardia Civil unable to stop the flow. Police were deployed to manage the arrivals and direct migrants to warehouses being used as temporary detention centers. Spanish news agency EFE reported that 15 bodies were found off the coast of Ceuta, believed to belong to people who attempted to swim from Morocco. The remains were handed to Guardia Civil units for identification and determination of cause of death. Ceuta has seen a marked rise in irregular migration by sea and on foot throughout the week, with thousands of young people gathering along the Moroccan border on Thursday, according to the reports.