• Nearly 50,000 migrants have entered Ceuta from Morocco over the past several days, with at least 28 people losing their lives in the attempt to reach EU territory.
• Spain deploys military to help secure the border with Morocco for the first time since May 2021, with plans to install floating buoys along the border embankment to prevent migrants from swimming to the territory.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has described the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants in Spain's Northern African exclave of Ceuta in past several days as an "attack" and "violation of Spain's territorial integrity."

During a visit to the territory on Friday, Sánchez assured Ceuta's nearly 85,000 residents of the whole country's support. "The whole of Spain stands by your side. We take responsibility for this situation," he said.

Nearly 50,000 migrants have entered Ceuta from Morocco over the past several days, according to Spanish media reports citing government and police sources. At least 28 people lost their lives in the attempt to reach EU territory, according to the latest official figures.

Most of the migrants reached the territory on Wednesday and Thursday by swimming, while many others climbed border fences.

Among the arrivals are many women and children.

The fast-moving situation triggered a crisis on Thursday, with Spain deploying the military to help secure the border with Morocco for the first time since May 2021, when more than 8,000 people crossed into Ceuta within 36 hours.

During his visit on Friday, Sánchez announced further measures to secure the border, which is also an external EU border.

Under the plans, floating buoys are to be installed along the border embankment between the Moroccan coast and Tarajal beach in Ceuta to prevent migrants from swimming to the territory.

Sánchez also promised fast-tracked procedures to facilitate the return of migrants who have entered the country irregularly.

"Many migrants are already leaving," he said, while stressing that Spain was cooperating with Morocco on the issue.

Although more people crossed the border on Friday morning, many returned to Morocco at the same time, which helped to ease the situation, Spanish state broadcaster RTVE reported.