To cross into Ceuta, many swam around a small border barrier that juts out into the Mediterranean. At least 67 people died in the attempt, said Grande-Marlaska providing updated figures on Saturday.
The sudden influx of migrants had sparked political panic in Europe.
EU said it would hold a video meeting on Tuesday after 22 bloc members issued a joint open letter on Saturday calling for a meeting of interior ministers “as a matter of urgency” to agree a speedy coordinated response, and to “prevent further uncontrolled crossings”.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on X: “Defending the external borders of the Union is not the interest of a single Nation. It is a shared responsibility of Europe.”
Italy suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain allowing for visa-free movement between borders as of Saturday for one month.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in a letter to the heads of the European Commission and European Council, blasted the “selfish” reaction by some EU countries. He backed a video meeting of interior ministers.
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on X Saturday that the bloc needed “a lessons learned process to improve our European resilience”, while pointing out that “not a single person reached mainland Spain or the rest of the EU” during the influx.
Madrid had rushed security personnel and equipment to the north African outpost that it has run for centuries.
After a night of wandering the beaches and streets of Ceuta or sleeping on the sand, AFP journalists observed Saturday, some young people turned back to say “adios” or “goodbye” to officers before crossing back to Morocco.
More soldiers stood guard on the small beach next to the border fence, positioned under parasols in the morning.
Spain’s interior ministry said a new pneumatic barrier 500 metres in length was installed near the border post to reinforce security.
What sparked the sudden massive flow of migrants remains unclear.
Morocco’s authorities have not yet issued an official statement on the development.
A Moroccan source close to the border operations told AFP on condition of anonymity on Saturday that those being returned by Spain were being transported home directly by bus or via the railway station in Tangier, 70km away.
The Fnideq border crossing was now “completely secure”, the source added, as were the hills overlooking it, from which hundreds of people, mostly young men, had thrown stones at security forces on Friday.
Ceuta, a territory of 18.5 square kilometres and the nearby enclave of Melilla are Europe’s only two land borders with Africa.
Previous migrant surges have occurred during tensions between Spain and Morocco, including in 2021 which led more than 10,000 migrants to enter Ceuta in just two days.
– AFP