The morning of October 1 in Ceuta began with a disturbing discovery: the body of a young man was found in coastal waters. According to documents found on him, the deceased was identified as a 23-year-old Algerian citizen. His body was spotted about 200 meters from the popular La Ribera beach, where maritime service personnel and underwater operations specialists arrived immediately.
The man was wearing a wetsuit—the type of gear often used by those attempting the dangerous swim from Morocco to Ceuta in hopes of illegally entering Spanish territory. Preliminary estimates suggest the body had been in the water for about two weeks, which matches its condition. Experts believe the young man died while trying to swim across the border, as many others have before him.
The body was sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, where specialists will determine the exact cause and time of death. This is the first such case in October, but by no means the only one this year: since January 2025, Ceuta has already recorded 36 similar tragedies. All the victims are young people from Maghreb countries who attempted the risky sea crossing.
September’s statistics were particularly alarming, with 11 bodies found in just one month—the highest monthly figure this year. By comparison, in all of 2024, Ceuta recorded 21 migrant deaths. The sharp rise in fatalities in 2025 is causing concern among local residents and authorities, who are trying to understand the reasons behind the trend and prevent further tragedies.
