At least 18 migrants died on July 31 after thousands of people attempted to breach the border between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, in one of the largest and deadliest crossings in recent memory. Spanish authorities confirmed the death toll as search and rescue operations continued along the coastline and at the border fence.

Spain deployed military forces to the enclave following the mass crossing attempt, which overwhelmed border security personnel. Officials described the situation as a serious humanitarian crisis, with large numbers of people entering the water and attempting to scale the border fence separating Morocco from the European Union territory.

The crossing involved thousands of migrants in a single coordinated surge, a scale that drew immediate comparisons to a similar mass breach at Ceuta in 2021, when more than 8,000 people crossed in a single day. Moroccan and Spanish authorities were working to manage those who had entered the enclave while continuing rescue operations for those still in the water or injured at the fence.

The European Union has faced recurring pressure over migration management at its southern borders, particularly at Spain's enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which share land borders with Morocco. Rights organizations have called for urgent medical and humanitarian assistance for survivors, while governments on both sides of the political spectrum have acknowledged the scale of the emergency.