Overview
- The mass crossings that flooded Ceuta last week involved official estimates of roughly 72,000 people and left between 72 and 75 dead, mostly from drowning.
- Spanish authorities deployed police, military and maritime units, erected sea barriers and returned about 70,000 entrants to Morocco while dozens of migrants remain in overcrowded reception centres.
- Madrid approved an emergency package of around €25 million to care for unaccompanied minors and opened missing‑persons and relief operations for the stranded.
- EU interior and justice ministers held a constructive emergency meeting that affirmed Schengen was not compromised and discussed options such as offshore return hubs and boosting Frontex capacity.
- Investigations are under way into smuggling networks and viral misinformation that may have driven the surge, and Spain is probing security risks after reports a DSN staffer was dismissed for publishing arrival figures and some previously banished jihadism‑linked individuals were identified among arrivals.