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.

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.

At least 34 migrants died trying to reach the Spanish territory of Ceuta. Tens of thousands of people breached the frontier with Morocco and poured into the tiny Spanish territory.

When he heard that the border was breached, Abdulah Buji jumped on his motorbike and rode as fast as he could to join the tens of thousands of other Moroccans who swam en masse to reach Spanish territory.

A migrant who crossed into Spain from Morocco sleeps on a beach in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. / AP Spanish officials have said at least 72 people died during the recent mass influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco,

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.

Close to 50,000 Moroccan migrants crossed into Spain's Ceuta enclave in just two days, creating a humanitarian emergency and leaving behind striking scenes along Europe's southern border.

Thousands of migrants ” totally collapsed” border fences and flooded into the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta from Morocco Thursday — spurring local officials to urge Spain’s government to declare a national emergency.

Around 50,000 migrants crossed into Spain’s North African exclave of Ceuta this week, a mass influx that overwhelmed local authorities. At least 57 people died during the crossings, which prompted tighter border security measures across Europe.

Ceuta latest: Trump lashes out over migrant ‘catastrophe’ as 60,000 cross into Spanish enclave - Spain sent troops to deal with the crisis as Morocco deployed water cannon trucks at the crossing-gates