Death Toll in Ceuta Migrant Crisis Reaches 72; EU Calls Emergency Meeting on August 4

[Anchor]

The death toll has risen to 72 as tens of thousands of Moroccan migrants crossed into Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa. The European Union has convened an emergency meeting.

Reporter Baegun has the details.

[Reporter]

Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa.

Migrants gathered along the coastline are receiving water rations from the Spanish military.

[Moroccan Migrant: We are just waiting for the Spanish government to come up with a solution so we can enter Europe. No one here will leave Ceuta.]

As many as 60,000 Moroccans flooded into the city of Ceuta, which has a population of 84,000, until the 1st.

The death toll among migrants in the process has increased to 72.

Most of them reportedly drowned while swimming across the sea, while others were crushed to death in the crowds.

Local police stated that bodies may still remain in the sea, warning that the number of casualties could rise further.

While most of the migrants have returned to Morocco, some reportedly remain scattered along the coast and throughout the city center to evade police searches.

In Europe, a debate is ongoing over responsibility for border control.

EU member states pressured Spain, arguing that a wrong signal must be prevented where illegal entry could lead to residency permits.

Italy announced the suspension of its free movement agreement with Spain.

The EU decided to hold an emergency meeting on the 4th, while Spain criticized some countries for politically exploiting the crisis.

[Fernando Grande-Marlaska / Spanish Minister of the Interior: Some countries have politically exploited this situation. They have shown an extremely selfish, unsolidary, and irresponsible attitude.]

The Ceuta migrant crisis has once again put Europe's immigration policy to the test.

[Video Editing: Kim Jin-won]
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.