Migrants surge into Spain's Ceuta as enclave seeks emergency aid

Thousands of migrants entered Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Thursday, with many swimming from Morocco or forcing their way through a border gate as local police struggled to contain the influx. Ceuta leader Juan Jesus Vivas urged Madrid to declare an emergency, saying reception centers for unaccompanied minors were far beyond capacity. Regional authorities said more than 1,500 migrants had reached the city over the past week or two, while Spanish broadcasters estimated 2,000 to 3,000 crossed on Thursday alone, though the Guardia Civil did not confirm that figure. The Interior Ministry blamed smuggling networks and said it was coordinating with Morocco after a Supreme Court ruling this month limited summary returns at sea.