Spain said on Friday it had brought under control a massive influx of migrants into its North African enclave of Ceuta, with the vast majority of more than 50,000 people who crossed by land and sea already returning voluntarily to Morocco.

The Spanish government's representative in Ceuta said 57 bodies had been recovered on the Spanish side of the border, adding that there could be additional casualties on the Moroccan side. Authorities said some migrants drowned, while others were crushed while trying to climb the breakwater supporting the border fence.

Spain's Interior Ministry said around 50,000 people crossed into the enclave from Thursday morning and estimated that 48,300 had returned by 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Friday. Ceuta's regional leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, said the total number of crossings over the previous two days could have reached 60,000.

On the Moroccan side, security forces used batons and tear gas to disperse crowds gathered near the gates to Ceuta, seeking to prevent further crossings.

The surge prompted concern across Europe. Italy said it was suspending the European Union's border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain, a measure that would affect people travelling by air or sea between the two countries. Madrid said the move violated EU treaties.

UNPRECEDENTED SCALE OF CROSSINGS

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez travelled to Ceuta on Friday, where he was met by protesters. He described the mass crossing as a "violation of Spain's territorial sovereignty" and said authorities were accelerating the return of people who had entered illegally, with Morocco's cooperation.

Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish autonomous cities in North Africa and have the European Union's only land borders with Africa. Both periodically experience attempted migrant crossings, but the scale of Thursday's influx appeared unprecedented.

Right-wing parties across Europe blamed the surge on what they described as Spain's comparatively lax migration policies, including an amnesty for hundreds of thousands of unauthorised migrants. Spain summoned the Italian ambassador to protest earlier comments by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who claimed Spain's amnesty policy had "encouraged human trafficking".

US President Donald Trump, a long-time critic of Spain's Socialist-led government, told a cabinet meeting the Ceuta crossings "look like an invasion", adding: "That same thing's going to happen to us if the Republicans don't get elected, except worse," referring to upcoming midterm elections.

The State Department on X pointed the blame squarely at the Spanish government, saying the incident was a direct result of its migration policies. "We are considering actions to defend Americans at home and abroad from this threat and stand ready to assist other European allies considering similar option," it said.

Meanwhile, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said France would increase police presence along its border with Spain, while strengthening aerial surveillance and patrols on trains.

EU countries are normally barred from conducting checks at internal Schengen borders, although temporary controls can be reintroduced under exceptional circumstances.

In a post on X, Spain's Guardia Civil police association AUGC said there had been too few police in place to monitor the fence during the surge on Thursday, making them unable to stop the rush.

Territorial Policy Minister Angel Victor Torres said that among factors contributing to the surge may have been a ruling by Spain's Supreme Court earlier this month that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla cannot be summarily rejected at the border. Experts say that still does not prevent their expulsion.

On the Moroccan side, thousands of migrants gathered in the town of Fnideq despite reinforced security measures aimed at preventing further crossings. Some began leaving later on Friday.

Although the main crossing appeared blocked, groups moved along the coast seeking alternative routes around the border fence.