At least 18 migrants died trying to reach the Spanish territory of Ceuta after tens of thousands of people breached the frontier with Morocco and poured into the tiny Spanish territory.

Spain’s prime minister slammed the reaction of some other European leaders, saying calls to suspend Spain from the borderless Schengen zone were “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest.

CEUTA, Spain – At least 72 people died during the recent mass influx of migrants into Spain’s Ceuta enclave from Morocco, Spanish officials said on Sunday, though Moroccan officials later presented a lower estimate.

Most of those who came to the territory, a Spanish exclave in Africa, have returned across the border to Morocco. At least 67 people died trying to enter, the authorities said.

The pro-immigration leader is facing backlash at home and abroad after roughly 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave.

The Spanish government said it will deploy military units to reinforce police in the North African enclave of Ceuta after migrants broke through the fences into the city from Morocco on Thursday, overwhelming the Guardia Civil police force.

Tens of thousands reportedly cross from Morocco to Ceuta as France says it will tighten its borders with Spain.

The crisis in Ceuta, on the African coast, instantly became a touchstone in the global migrant debate as suspicions swirled that the viral incident was orchestrated.

Death toll increases to 67 people, according to Spain's Ministry of the Interior, after about 50,000 people entered the Spanish enclave since Thursday morning, with most migrants returned to Morocco on Saturday.

Spain has installed a 1,600-foot containment barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and Morocco.

As thousands of Moroccans who forced their way into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta this week were returning home, many did so with their dreams broken and newly convinced that reaching Spain was not worth the risks.