Spanish military forces have been deployed to the northern African exclave of Ceuta following a mass border breach by thousands of migrants from Morocco, which left at least 18 people dead, officials reported on Friday.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska were scheduled to visit the territory on Friday morning as local emergency resources struggled to manage the influx.
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Rachid Sbihi, a leader of a local workers association representing Civil Guard officers, described the situation as a "serious humanitarian crisis."
"People are still entering. The reinforcements that have arrived are only helping the injured and other humanitarian efforts," Sbihi said.
Thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied minors, were forced to sleep on sidewalks and in public parks after crossing the border.
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"It's chaotic," Sbihi added.
Official reports indicated that many of the 18 victims drowned in the sea, while others died during a stampede near the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach.
Video footage showed crowds of predominantly Moroccan men, along with families, navigating around breakwaters to access local Spanish roads.
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The sudden escalation prompted Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni to threaten a suspension of Italy's Schengen open-border agreement with Spain, citing security concerns despite sharing no land border.
