EU border 'totally collapses' as army deployed to find 50,000 illegal immigrants

Spain has confirmed it will send military personnel to its North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla after border authorities warned the frontier had “totally collapsed” amid a dramatic increase in migrant arrivals.

The decision follows reports that up to 50,000 migrants have entered the European Union territories in recent days, with hundreds more believed to have made the crossing on Thursday alone.

Video footage circulating on social media appeared to show migrants, many appearing to be young men, rushing the border between Spain and Morocco, while Spanish authorities seemed unable to prevent them. Fires were also reportedly ignited during violent confrontations.

Police sources indicate that at least 17 people are believed to have died attempting the perilous crossing after up to 2,000 migrants arrived over the past 10 days.

Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spain’s Civil Guard officers policing the border in Ceuta, said: “The situation is absolute chaos.”

“It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing.”

He added that the border had “totally collapsed.”

Spain’s Interior Ministry has dismissed calls to declare a national emergency, stating the measure does not apply to migration crises.

The ministry subsequently announced that 60 members of the armed forces would be dispatched to strengthen the border as local media reported confrontations between migrants and police.

Videos and images appearing online seemed to show vehicles burning during the disturbances. Ceuta and the larger Spanish enclave of Melilla, situated approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles) further south, are positioned on the northern Mediterranean coastline at Africa’s tip.

The two autonomous cities are under Spanish jurisdiction and represent the European Union’s sole land boundaries with Africa.

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Ceuta has remained under Spanish authority since 1580.

The enclave is inhabited by a diverse population of Christians and Muslims, along with Spanish and Moroccan residents and cross-border workers who coexist in relative harmony.

Morocco does not officially recognize Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territory and frequently characterizes them as occupied lands.