The death toll in the waters off the Spanish enclave of Ceuta has risen to 57, with recovery efforts ongoing, according to a report from La Jornada. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is traveling to the area to address the escalating migration crisis, the outlet said.
The report, published Friday, did not specify a timeframe for the recoveries or provide details on the victims' identities. La Jornada noted that Sánchez's visit comes as authorities work to manage the situation along the coastline, where migrants have been attempting to enter Spanish territory.
In a related development, La Jornada reported that 48,300 of the migrants who entered Ceuta have been returned to Morocco. A separate report from Reforma put the number of returns at 37,000, though it also confirmed the 57 deaths. The discrepancy in return figures could not be reconciled from the available material.
The influx has been described as a humanitarian crisis. CNN en Español characterized the situation as "absolutely unsustainable," while Telemundo Miami has published an explainer on the events in Ceuta, framing it as a crisis for Spain. The enclave, located on the northern coast of Africa, has long been a flashpoint for migration between Morocco and the European Union.
Spanish authorities have not released further details on the causes of the deaths or the conditions that led to the mass entry. The reports do not indicate whether the bodies were recovered from the sea or along the shore.
What to watch next: Whether Sánchez's visit produces new policy measures or additional cooperation agreements with Morocco to stem the flow of migrants.
