At least 100 migrants lost their lives as thousands breached the Ceuta border last week to gain entry into Spanish territory from Morocco.
Juan Jesus Vivas, head of Ceuta’s local government, disclosed the number of casualties while appearing before the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs in Brussels on Thursday.
Mr Vivas called the border breach an “invasion,” describing the deaths of 100 migrants as a “profound sorrow” and an “irreparable tragedy.”
According to Mr Vivas, between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants who crossed the border into Ceuta have remained there.
“Ceuta has not returned to normal because between 3,000 and 5,000 people who entered during those fateful days of July 30 and 31 still remain,” Mr Vivas said.
“The reception centers for adult and minor migrants are in a state of collapse, turning the influx into a major humanitarian emergency.”
He added, “We demand the immediate expulsion of the Moroccans who have entered our city irregularly and who remain here.”
When asked whether jihadists were among the migrants who gained access to Ceuta during the border breach, Mr Vivas said, “We don’t know from the local authorities whether there are any jihadists among those who entered.”
Last Thursday, more than 70,000 migrants from Morocco crossed into Ceuta, Spain, in what was described as the largest influx of migrants into Spain.