More than 48,000 migrants have returned to Morocco after around 50,000 people crossed by sea into Spain's Ceuta enclave, Spanish officials said, as France and Italy moved to tighten border controls.
At least 57 people died during the crisis, according to Human Rights Watch, which described the returns as chaotic and said the exact figures remain unclear. The borders are heavily fortified, making them extremely difficult and dangerous to cross, said Judith Sunderland, a senior associate director at the rights group.
On Saturday, France and Italy bolstered border controls, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announcing the suspension of Schengen free-movement rules between Spain and Italy.
While Ceuta is part of Spain and the Schengen area, special rules apply to the enclave, making it difficult for migrants to travel onward to the European mainland.
The reasons for the sudden surge remain unclear. Experts said it was too early to determine whether lax Moroccan policing, attractive Spanish immigration policies, or misinformation from human traffickers played a role.