'Absolute chaos' as thousands of migrants break into Spain 'like horror movie'

Shocking scenes out of Spain are causing concern as thousands of migrants from Morocco have crossed the border into the small Spanish region of Ceuta.

“The situation is absolute chaos,” said Rachid Sbihi, head of the association that represents Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, who police the border. “It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing.” He said that the border had “totally collapsed.”

Video captures the moment as massive crowds from Morocco run across the breakwaters at Tarajal beach onto local roads.

While most of the individuals appeared to be young men, families with women and children were also among them. Some shouted “Viva España!” to a photographer for The Associated Press.

Migrants frequently swim from the Moroccan town of Castillejos to reach Ceuta, located on the northern African coast. They have to travel roughly 3.1 miles to reach Spanish territory. Some make the attempt from Belyounech, a neighboring town where the crossing is shorter.

The government stated that a national emergency could not be declared over migration, but Spain’s interior ministry assured that it would protect its citizens’ safety and the integrity of the national border.

The crowd of migrants attempting to reach the small territory, primarily by swimming, led to an escalation at the Spain-Morocco border.

What prompted such a large number of migrants to cross into Ceuta remains unclear. Activists in both Morocco and Ceuta, along with Sibhi, reported that at least three individuals died while trying to reach Ceuta by sea.

The situation was described as “exceptional” by Achraf Maimouni, a member of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in northern Morocco. “The Tarajal border was opened under unusual circumstances this morning, and people crossed,’’ he said.

Social media users were shocked at the scene.

Many were frustrated with the treatment the migrants were receiving online, with the media framing the scene as “a horror movie.”​

“It doesn’t hurt to treat them with dignity. Again, many have come to look for a better life, which means working, which eventually benefits Spain’s economy,” one user wrote. She added, “These aren’t criminals; they aren’t wild animals; they are human beings who deserve dignity and a good life.”

Another wrote, “Migration is a complex issue that needs compassion and practical solutions.”