Tetouan morgue receives 14 bodies as Ceuta toll reaches 57

At least 57 people are believed to have died during the mass crossings into Ceuta, according to figures from Spanish authorities , as searches for missing migrants continued Friday.

Spanish authorities said 57 bodies had been recovered on the Ceuta side of the border following the unprecedented influx from Morocco.

Some victims drowned, while others were crushed during attempts to cross the Tarajal breakwater and border installations, according to Spain’s government representative in Ceuta.

Separately, a source at Tetouan’s forensic medicine department told Hespress that the facility had received 14 bodies linked to the crossings.

All 14 victims were male. Seven had been identified, including people from Casablanca, Martil, Ksar El Kebir and M’diq, as well as one Yemeni national. The identities of seven others remained unknown.

Two bodies had been released to their families after legal procedures were completed, while 12 remained at the morgue.

Prosecutors ordered autopsies to establish the causes of death and complete the identification and judicial procedures before the remaining bodies could be handed over to relatives.

Spanish authorities warned that the toll could rise as the Civil Guard and rescue services continued searching the coastline.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said around 50,000 people had entered Ceuta since Thursday morning. By 6 p.m. Friday, an estimated 48,300 had returned voluntarily to Morocco.