Ceuta still overwhelmed: 3,000–5,000 remain, 862 minors as Spain counts 72 dead

Monday, August 3, 2026Confirmed

World Desk

What we know

Four days after tens of thousands crossed from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, authorities said Monday that most had returned but thousands remained. Ceuta president Juan Jesús Vivas told Telecinco between 3,000 and 5,000 people were still in the exclave and that adult and minor reception centers had “collapsed.” Local official Alberto Gaitán said the city was processing 862 migrant minors, who under Spanish law receive special protection from immediate deportation.

Spain estimated about 69,500 returns to Morocco over four days—exceeding earlier arrival estimates of roughly 50,000–60,000 on Thursday’s surge. Reuters/NBC put the Spanish-side death toll at 72, with 11 deaths reported on the Moroccan side. Hundreds camped on El Trampolín beach; Al Jazeera and AP reported food scarcity, a full migrant center (capacity ~600), and unaccompanied minors separated from families. An EU emergency interior ministers videoconference was set for Tuesday. Madrid and Rabat publicly blamed misinformation and trafficking; Ceuta’s Vivas accused Morocco of unreliability, while Spanish media citing intelligence said Morocco did not plan the rush but allowed border controls to ease.

What's confirmed

Vivas: 3,000–5,000 remain; reception centers “collapsed”; Gaitán: 862 minors in process (Reuters/NBC; Al Jazeera).
Spain: ~69,500 returned to Morocco over four days; Spanish-side deaths 72; Morocco reported 11 (Reuters/NBC; AP/Al Jazeera).
Beach camps and army/police patrols documented Monday; center capacity ~600, food scarce among those remaining (Reuters; AP/AFP via Al Jazeera).
EU interior ministers emergency videoconference scheduled Tuesday; Albares sought reciprocal EU support (Reuters/NBC).

What's still developing

How Spain will house, process, or relocate remaining adults and protected minors amid collapsed local capacity.
Diplomatic fallout with Morocco and EU partners over whether Rabat orchestrated, permitted, or merely failed to stop the surge.

Sources

Reuters / NBC News — Aug. 3: 3,000–5,000 remain; Vivas “collapsed” centers; 862 minors; ~69,500 returns; 72 Spanish-side / 11 Moroccan deaths; EU ministers Tuesday link
Al Jazeera — Hundreds of unaccompanied minors stranded; 3,000–5,000 of ~60,000 avoided expulsion; >800 minors; center full; AP/AFP food scarcity link
AP News — Aug. 3 beach camps; families searching; 72 Spanish-confirmed deaths; minors’ legal protections; remaining 3,000–5,000 link
El País — Aug. 3 barricades/patrols; residents’ street cordons; soldiers guiding returns; holdouts still in Ceuta link