18 Moroccan migrants die trying to reach Spain

At least 18 Moroccan migrants have died trying to reach the Spanish

enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

This as Spain deploys its military after an estimated 49,000 people breach the border.

It is not immediately clear what prompted the surge of migrants

crossing to Ceuta.

Video footage shows crowds of people, mainly Moroccans,

walking around the breakwaters at Tarajal beach onto local

roads in Ceuta, Spain.

While most appear to be young men, there were also families

with women and small children.

Among those who died, many drowned but some were also

killed in the stampede to cross the breakwater fence at the beach.

This Moroccan man says he's in Spain to seek a better future.

Because we don't have a good life in Morocco. We don't

have good medicine. We don't have good teachers and it's

a bad life in Morocco.

That's why we get swimming here.

Soulemn, Moroccan migrant

The Spanish Military is patrolling the scene into the night

as migrants continue to filter in.

Ceuta authorities link the surge to a Spanish Supreme Court

ruling earlier this month that barred authorities from immediately returning

migrants who arrive by sea without due process.

But the ruling does not apply to migrants who enter Spain by land,

including by climbing over the border fence.

Activists in Morocco express doubt the ruling was behind the surge,

arguing most migrants would have been unaware of such legal decisions,

with some describing the situation as a "serious humanitarian crisis."

Without shelter, thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children,

were left sleeping in parks and sidewalks, with others roaming the

streets aimlessly.

Moroccan authorities have yet to publicly comment on the crossings.

To reach Ceuta, located on the northern African coast,

migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq,

covering about 5 kilometres.