Ceuta is returning to normal over the weekend following an unprecedented migrant surge that saw between 50,000 and 60,000 people enter the tiny Spanish exclave from Morocco in just two days. Driven by economic hardship and encouraged by social media rumors, the migrants swam, scrambled, and charged into the territory by land and sea.
The mass rush resulted in significant loss of life, with the death toll reaching at least 72 by Sunday. Officials reported finding five more bodies along Ceuta's coastline as the enclave recovers from the influx. Additionally, local health services have treated more than 1,000 people since Thursday.
While most of the arrivals have already returned to Morocco, some migrants remain in the hills surrounding the city. The enclave was thrown into chaos by the surge, and residents continue to grapple with the resulting humanitarian, political, and social fallout.