Madrid, July 31 (QNA) - Spain confirmed today that it has contained the massive influx of migrants to Ceuta, whose numbers exceeded 50,000, noting that the voluntary return of the majority of those who crossed the land and sea borders yesterday has begun.
In a statement today, Spanish authorities revealed that rescue teams recovered 57 bodies of migrants who attempted to reach Ceuta from the Spanish side of the border, indicating the possibility of other victims on the other side of the border with Morocco.
They explained that some victims drowned, while others died while trying to climb the breakwater that forms part of the border fence. This border influx has sparked division in Europe, with some European leaders calling for Spain to be expelled from the Schengen Area, while other EU members have urged Madrid to ensure the incident is contained.
The Spanish Interior Ministry announced yesterday (Thursday) that more than 50,000 people had crossed the border with Morocco, and estimated that about 37,000 of them had already returned to the areas they came from. (QNA)