Spain said thousands of migrants were returning from the North African enclave of Ceuta on Friday after a mass border crossing that left at least 57 people dead, with authorities reporting that tens of thousands of people entered the Spanish territory by land and sea over the past two days.
The Spanish government said 57 bodies had been recovered on the Spanish side of the border and warned there could be additional casualties in Morocco, with officials saying some victims drowned while others were crushed during attempts to climb the breakwater supporting the border fence.
Authorities estimated that about 50,000 people crossed into Ceuta since Thursday, while regional officials placed the figure as high as 60,000.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta, describing the mass crossings as "a violation of Spain's territorial sovereignty" and saying all available resources were being mobilized to manage the situation.
Spain's Interior Ministry said roughly 48,300 people had already returned to Morocco by Friday evening, with many leaving voluntarily while others were repatriated in coordination with Moroccan authorities.
Moroccan security forces used batons, tear gas and water cannon to prevent additional crossings, while burned vehicles remained visible near the border following clashes with crowds.
Local officials described the situation as a serious humanitarian crisis, with thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, sleeping outdoors or searching for food and shelter after reaching Ceuta.
The developments prompted responses across Europe as leaders weighed border security and migration policies.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described images from Ceuta as "unacceptable" and said dangerous crossings must stop while smuggling networks should be dismantled and migrant returns carried out under existing rules.
Germany welcomed Spain's efforts to prevent undocumented migrants from reaching mainland Europe, while France said it was coordinating with Spanish and Moroccan authorities and strengthened controls along its border with Spain.
Italy announced it was suspending Schengen arrangements with Spain, a move Madrid said violated European Union treaties.
Spanish officials said trafficking networks may have exploited recent legal developments concerning migrant returns at sea, although activists questioned whether that explanation accounted for the scale of the crossings.
The surge marked one of the largest migration movements ever recorded at the European Union's only land border with Africa.