Around 49,000 irregular migrants from Morocco entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta in recent days, initial estimates released Friday indicated, according to EFE news agency, Anadolu reports.
According to the news agency, the figure is a provisional estimate for the moment as government sources said that there are no official figures yet.
Meanwhile, public broadcaster RTVE reported that the government confirmed the estimated figures.
Spanish daily El Pais said that the estimate represents an almost 50% increase in the enclave’s population, which officially stands at more than 80,000.
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Meanwhile, thousands of migrants who entered Ceuta irregularly in recent hours reportedly began returning to Morocco. El Pais noted that the situation at the border began to return to normal, with far more leaving than entering.
Police forces reportedly said that 27 bodies were located by midday Friday, the majority of whom drowned while attempting to swim, according to El Pais.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of migrants reportedly clashed with security forces at the border fences while attempting to cross from Morocco into Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s other North African enclave.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the government was mobilizing all available resources in response to the situation.
The government also announced that the armed forces would be deployed to support the Civil Guard in maintaining security across the city.
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