Ceuta: Thousands of migrants swim to Spanish enclave in North Africa

About 6,000 migrants managed to cross from Morocco to the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta by Tuesday. Many of them swam or used rubber dinghies. One young man drowned as he tried to reach the enclave.

In some places, the tide was so low that migrants could even walk through the shallow waters from beaches that were a few kilometers south of Ceuta.

African migrants have long seen Ceuta as a stepping stone to Europe. But the Spanish enclave in North Africa has never seen such a rapid influx of arrivals. Local officials accused Morocco of relaxing its border controls amid a diplomatic spat with Spain. The countries' relations have been strained since Spain accepted a Moroccan rebel leader for hospital treatment.

Many migrants began their journey by climbing on the cliffs of Fnideq, a town in northern Morocco. They jumped at the chance when Morocco relaxed its borders on Monday.

But once they arrived in Ceuta, Spanish Civil Guards detained them. Spain does not grant asylum status to Moroccans — only unaccompanied minors may stay under government supervision.

The sudden arrival of thousands of migrants has strained the Spanish army, Civil Guard and emergency workers in Ceuta, a small city of 85,000. Spain sent 200 more officers, including anti-riot police and professionals specialized in border control, to the territory, the Interior Ministry said.

Spanish authorities transferred arriving adults to a soccer stadium, where they have to wait to be returned to Morocco.

Many of the migrants arriving were minors. Authorities transferred those thought to be underage to warehouses run by groups such as the Red Cross.