Morocco's interior ministry on Sunday, August 3rd, 2026, reported that 11 people died while trying to reach Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta last week. This figure is significantly lower than Spain's official toll, which states that at least 72 migrants died during the crossing attempts.

Rachid El Khalfi, a spokesman for Morocco's interior ministry, detailed that 10 of the 11 deaths were due to drowning, while one person fell from a rocky area. The ministry also noted that there were approximately 40,000 attempts to cross into Ceuta illegally between Wednesday and Friday.

The surge in crossings sparked a diplomatic dispute within the European Union, with some member states criticizing Spain's migration policies. Morocco attributed the sudden rush to the "spread of misleading information" on social media.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) has reported a higher number of victims, stating there were "nearly 130 victims" with dozens more missing.

Morocco is collaborating with Spain to verify the death toll and identify bodies found on Spanish territory. Additionally, prosecutors have opened an official investigation into the events. The interior ministry also referenced a July 8 Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants arriving by sea should not be returned as quickly as others, citing "misinterpretations of legal provisions".

Guardia Civil officers have been involved in recovering bodies from the waters around Ceuta.

Sources