At least 18 people have died after thousands of migrants attempted to cross into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta from Morocco, according to Spanish media reports.
The incident occurred on July 31, 2026, when migrants used swimming, boats, and border fence climbing to reach the territory.
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Thousands of people, mostly children and young adults from Morocco and other African nations, traveled along the highway from Tangier to Fnideq toward Ceuta.
Local authorities closed the road to vehicular traffic as migrants gathered in Fnideq, hoping to cross and secure residence permits in the European Union.
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Spanish authorities attributed the sudden surge to human smuggling syndicates.
Officials stated these groups exploited a recent ruling by Spain's Supreme Court, which prohibited returning migrants who reach Ceuta by swimming or boat without formal legal proceedings.
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The crisis also spread to Melilla, Spain's other exclave in Morocco, where officials closed the border crossing late at night to prevent a similar breach.
Local residents were advised to avoid the area to allow security forces to operate unhindered.
In Beni Ansar, on the Moroccan side of the border, a group of migrants clashed with police and set police vehicles on fire, according to Moroccan media reports.
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Approximately 400 people successfully entered Melilla illegally over the past day, according to the mayor of Melilla.
