Post by : Badri Ariffin

Spain has begun installing a 500-metre (1,640-foot) floating sea barrier along part of its maritime border with Morocco after a massive wave of migrant crossings into the North African enclave of Ceuta. Authorities said migrant crossings stopped overnight as the new security measures were put in place following a border surge that claimed at least 67 lives.

According to Spanish officials, around 50,000 people crossed into Ceuta by land and sea from Thursday in what they described as an unprecedented movement at one of the European Union's only land borders with Africa. Spain said more than 48,000 of those people returned to Morocco within 48 hours.

New Floating Barrier Installed at Tarajal Breakwater

Spain's Civil Guard started installing the floating barrier at 7:50 a.m. (0550 GMT) on Saturday at the Tarajal breakwater, one of the main entry points used by migrants attempting to reach Ceuta.

The government said the pneumatic barrier will work together with anchored naval buoys to strengthen surveillance along the coastline. It is designed to rise between 30 and 70 centimetres (12 to 28 inches) above the water while extending up to one metre below the surface.

Officials also confirmed that a channel between the barriers has been left open to allow Civil Guard patrol boats to continue operating in the area.

Reuters footage from Saturday showed Spanish police officers and soldiers patrolling the largely empty Tarajal beach under heavy fog.

European Union Calls Emergency Meeting

The large-scale crossings have raised concern across the European Union.

A total of 22 EU member states signed a letter requesting coordinated action to protect the bloc's external borders and strengthen migration management.

Ireland, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, announced that it has called an emergency video conference of EU interior ministers for Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also criticised Italy's decision to suspend passport-free Schengen travel arrangements with Spain for one month.

In a letter sent to the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, Sanchez said: "In the current international context, the EU cannot afford this kind of selfish, polarising and unlawful reaction."

Death Toll Reaches 67

Spanish authorities said at least 67 bodies have been recovered on the Spanish side of the border.

Officials reported that some migrants drowned while attempting to swim into Ceuta, while others died after being crushed as they tried to climb the breakwater and the border fence.

Authorities said many people attempting the crossing were driven by economic hardship and were influenced by rumours circulating on social media.

Spain Blames Smuggling Networks

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska accused people-smuggling networks of taking advantage of vulnerable migrants.

He said smugglers spread misleading interpretations of a recent ruling by Spain's Supreme Court, which stated that migrants intercepted at sea cannot be summarily returned when there is no physical barrier.

Speaking from Ceuta, Grande-Marlaska said Spain had restored order within 24 hours, although the operation had not officially ended.

He said reinforced police and military deployments would remain in place for as long as necessary, while noting that migrant crossings overnight had fallen to almost zero.

The minister also stated: "Morocco isn't any threat to Ceuta or the rest of Spain — it's a fully reliable partner."

He added that Spanish authorities had received no intelligence suggesting that such a large-scale border crossing was about to happen.

Civil Guard Seeks More Officers

The AUGC union representing Spain's Civil Guard has requested the deployment of at least 200 additional officers.

The union warned that more measures may still be required because migrants could attempt to swim around the new inflatable sea barrier.

Travel Restrictions Remain in Place

The Spanish government said people who entered Ceuta irregularly cannot continue travelling to mainland Spain or other countries within the Schengen area.

The Foreign Ministry said passengers leaving Ceuta by sea or air are subject to police identity checks, creating a second layer of border control after the land crossing with Morocco.

Spain Rejects Claims Over Residency Programme

Spain has maintained a relatively open migration policy compared with many other European countries, including a programme that grants residency to more than half a million undocumented migrants.

However, the government rejected claims that this regularisation programme encouraged the recent rush into Ceuta.

Officials said applicants must prove they were living in Spain before January 1, 2026, and must also show five continuous months of residence when applying.

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