Spanish officials estimate that about 49,000 migrants entered the North African Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco within 24 hours, with many swimming ashore. The scale of the crossing is significant because it exceeds half of Ceuta’s population and follows a Spanish Supreme Court ruling limiting the summary return of migrants intercepted at sea.

At least 18 people have reportedly died attempting to reach Ceuta in recent days, while crossings were said to have continued overnight. Officials estimate that around 7,000 of those who entered were minors; Ceuta’s population is about 83,600.