Dozens killed after 50,000 migrants cross border from Morocco flooding to Spanish enclave of Ceuta (VIDEO)

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UPDATE – Dozens killed after 50,000 migrants cross into Spanish territory from Morocco

«Spain is scrambling to contain a sudden border crisis after tens of thousands of people rushed into its North African territory, with dozens killed and political shock waves spreading across Europe» .

Spain’s Interior Ministry told NBC News that some 50,000 people had entered Ceuta on Thursday from Morocco. Around half of that number had returned Friday, the Interior Ministry said.

At least 34 migrants had died, said Juan Jesus Vivas, the president of the autonomous Spanish enclave.

Huge crowds of migrants breached the border to the North African Spanish enclave of Ceuta

At least nine people have died after huge crowds of migrants breached the border to the North African Spanish enclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco, authorities said.

The deaths came after the government of Ceuta said on Thursday that between 1,500 and 2,000 people had entered in the last 10 days.

Hundreds more were estimated to have arrived on Thursday, prompting regional President Jesus Vivas to declare an “absolute humanitarian and social emergency” and call on Madrid to send troops to reassert control of the border.

Spain’s Interior Ministry rejected calls to declare a national emergency, saying such a measure does not cover migration crises, but promised additional resources.

Later, the Interior Ministry announced that the armed forces will send 60 troops to reinforce the border.

Footage showed some of the migrants shouting “Viva Espana!” as they entered the territory, many of them having travelled by water from the Moroccan side on inflatable devices.

Crowds were shown walking around the breakwaters onto local roads, reported The Associated Press news agency. State news agency EFE said others had crossed by the border by land, scaling fences.

Migrant rights activist Zakaria Zarroqui told the Reuters news agency that the surge in migrant numbers was similar to one that occurred in May 2021, when some 10,000 Moroccan and sub-Saharan youths entered ⁠the enclave within days.

“The situation remains out of control as we speak,” ⁠Zarroqui said, adding that people were still flocking to the Moroccan city of Fnideq in an attempt to cross the border.

Originally published by Al Jazeera