Morocco says 11 migrants died in bid to reach Spain’s Ceuta as death toll disputed

Morocco’s Interior Ministry said Sunday that at least 11 migrants died while attempting to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, a significantly lower toll than figures reported by Spanish authorities and rights groups.

In a statement, the ministry said the deaths included one person who died after falling from a rocky area near Ceuta and 10 others who drowned.

Spanish authorities, however, have reported that at least 72 people died during the recent migration surge, while Moroccan rights organizations have put the toll even higher.

The Interior Ministry attributed the crisis to what it described as the malicious use of social media, the spread of misleading information, human trafficking networks, and misinterpretations of legal and administrative developments.

The ministry also referred to a recent ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court stating that migrants arriving irregularly by sea are not subject to immediate pushbacks, suggesting the decision may have encouraged attempted crossings.

According to Moroccan authorities, around 40,000 people attempted to cross irregularly into Ceuta, while another 1,135 tried to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla. All those who reached Melilla were immediately returned to Moroccan territory.

Spanish authorities said most of the approximately 60,000 migrants who entered Ceuta in recent days have since returned to Morocco.

Meanwhile, the Moroccan Association for Human Rights estimated that nearly 130 people were killed, with dozens more reported missing or injured. The Northern Observatory for Human Rights estimated the death toll at around 100.

Morocco’s Interior Ministry said the public prosecutor’s office has opened judicial investigations into the incident.

The migration crisis unfolded as Morocco marked Throne Day, commemorating King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne in 1999.