Madrid: Spain's Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, announced that approximately 70,000 migrants have left the Spanish enclave of Ceuta following last week's unprecedented mass border crossing from Morocco. This statement comes as the official death toll from the incident rises to 75, with authorities actively searching for missing individuals and facing mounting political criticism over the government's crisis management.

According to Anadolu Agency, around 72,000 migrants initially entered Ceuta during the mass crossing event. Grande-Marlaska emphasized that Spain is in the process of determining the legal status of those migrants who remain, stating that individuals not entitled to stay will be repatriated in accordance with Spanish and international law. He made these remarks following an extraordinary meeting of European Union interior ministers.

The interior minister attributed the 75 deaths to "criminal mafias" involved in human trafficking, highlighting the urgent need for international cooperation to combat such networks. He noted that EU ministers commended Spain's response, particularly its collaboration with Morocco, which was instrumental in returning the majority of migrants and averting a larger humanitarian crisis.

Grande-Marlaska also pointed to the role of online disinformation in exacerbating the situation, arguing that false information on social media encouraged more people to attempt the perilous crossing. He reiterated Spain's commitment to combating irregular migration while advocating for "safe, legal, and orderly migration."

In Ceuta, a special Civil Guard office has been set up to assist relatives of missing migrants, with police reporting around 44 individuals still unaccounted for. The local authorities are currently providing care for approximately 1,000 unaccompanied migrant children who remain in the enclave. In response, the Spanish government has allocated an additional £25 million ($29 million) in emergency funding for their support.

Despite the positive assessment from EU ministers, the Spanish government faces significant political backlash. Manfred Weber, chairman of the European People's Party (EPP), criticized Spain's liberal migration policies, blaming them for the crisis and the border deaths. The Spanish Popular Party's delegation in the European Parliament has accused Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government of compromising the security of Spain's and the EU's external borders, prompting a parliamentary debate scheduled for September.

Far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal condemned the border crossing as an "invasion," alleging that the government is promoting irregular migration and failing to protect Spain's sovereignty. In light of these tensions, Grande-Marlaska urged Italy to reconsider its decision to reinstate border controls with Spain, asserting that the Schengen area's integrity remains intact due to Ceuta's unique border status and the lack of onward migration into Europe.