Authorities in the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta have declared a humanitarian emergency following a large influx of migrants from neighbouring Morocco.
According to Spain’s national broadcaster, TVE, between 2,000 and 3,000 migrants entered Ceuta on Thursday. The state news agency, Efe, also reported that some of the migrants gained entry by scaling the high-security border fence separating the territory from Morocco.
Local authorities said many of the migrants reached Ceuta by swimming from the Moroccan coast, particularly around the Tarajal breakwater and other sections of the border.
The sudden increase in arrivals has overwhelmed the enclave’s reception facilities, prompting officials to activate emergency humanitarian measures to respond to the situation.
Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city located on the northern coast of Africa, has long been a major entry point for migrants seeking to reach Europe from the African continent.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as efforts intensify to manage the growing number of arrivals.