At Least 18 Dead as 49,000 Migrants Storm Ceuta

At least 18 migrants lost their lives attempting to cross from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta, with some drowning and others crushed in the rush.

Spain's Interior Ministry estimated that around 49,000 migrants entered the enclave over 24 hours by land and sea, a record influx nearly five times higher than the peak of Europe's 2015 migration crisis.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rushed to Ceuta as the government deployed troops to secure the border and France announced tighter controls at its frontier with Spain.

The mass crossing has reignited tensions between Madrid and Rabat and caused deep divisions within Europe over migration policy.