Hundreds of migrants set up camp on a beach in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Monday (August 3) as local authorities struggled to cope with the thousands still in the tiny territory after a massive border rush last week.

Others waited outside the temporary migrant reception centre (CETI) which is already at full capacity. There, Moroccan Mohammed Ahmed, 27, said he just hopes to be able to work in Spain.

In El Trampolin beach migrants, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa, waited and slept. Most only had towels to help them shield from the wind and sun, and little access to food and water.

“I’m hungry, but some locals are bringing some food for us. But it’s not for everyone,” 24-year-old Sudanese migrant Kamal Karoum said. Karoum said he originally fled to Morocco from war is Sudan, but decided to cross to Ceuta after a friend told him the border was open.

“I’m just trying to find somewhere where I can be protected,” he added.

Spain estimates that about 69,500 migrants have returned to Morocco over the past four days, exceeding initial estimates of around 50,000 arrivals in Ceuta on Thursday. The official death toll on the Spanish side of the border stands at 72, with 11 deaths on the Moroccan side.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

'I want a job in Spain': migrants wait in Ceuta after mass crossing

VIDEO SHOWS: MIGRANTS AT TEMPORARY RECEPTION CENTRE, MIGRANTS AT BEACH, SOUNDBITES FROM MIGRANTS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: CEUTA, SPAIN (AUGUST 3, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. MIGRANTS OUTSIDE TEMPORARY MIGRANT RECEPTION CENTRE (CETI)

2. MIGRANTS INSIDE RECEPTION CENTRE

3. VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS OUTSIDE CETI

4. MIGRANT WITH BANDAGED ARM, LAYING ON GROUND

3. POLICE WALKING IN ROAD WHERE MIGRANTS ARE RESTING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) 27-YEAR-OLD MIGRANT FROM MORROCCO, MOHAMMED AHMED, SAYING:

“I want a job in Spain. I can work as a truck or bus driver, as a barber, doing tattoos, painting, as a mechanic. I can work as anything, I have no problem. I have diplomas, I have everything here. I‘ve got no problem.”

5. MIGRANTS HOLDING SIGN READING (English): ‘WE ARE FROM YEMEN, OUR COUNTRY IS NOT SAFE’

6. MIGRANTS OUTSIDE CETI

7. MIGRANT SLEEPING USING TRASH BAGS AS PILLOW

8. VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS OUTSIDE CETI

9. BEACH WHERE MIGRANTS ARE WAITING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 24-YEAR-OLD MIGRANT FROM SUDAN, KAMAL KAROUM, SAYING:

“Now it’s very difficult and it’s getting more difficult. It’s been more than three days. No food, nowhere to sleep, not even blankets to warm up from the cold. We live in front of the beach. So it’s very cold.”

11. VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS IN BEACH

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 24-YEAR-OLD MIGRANT FROM SUDAN, KAMAL KAROUM, SAYING:

“Personally, my friends yes, called me that the border is open, see for yourself and go there. Because we already, I’m from Sudan as you know, we got the war in Sudan, so I'm forced to be in Morocco, in force. It’s out of my hand to be in Morocco, so I’m just trying to find somewhere where I can be protected."

13. MIGRANT WASHING CLOTHES IN THE SEA

14. MIGRANTS STANDING ON ROCKS

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 24-YEAR-OLD MIGRANT FROM SUDAN, KAMAL KAROUM, SAYING:

“I’m hungry, but some locals are bringing some food for us. But it’s not for all people because we are a lot here. So that’s why.”

16. VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS IN BEACH