The death toll in the border crisis between Spain and Morocco, in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, has reached 67, the Spanish government announced on Saturday.
According to authorities, some of the victims drowned at sea, while others were crushed while trying to cross the border barrier.
After the entry of about 60 migrants into the territory of Ceuta from Thursday to Friday, Spain has decided to build a 500-meter protective barrier, which will extend along the dam into the sea to prevent further illegal crossings, AP reports.
On Saturday morning, a small number of exhausted migrants who arrived by swimming at Ceuta's Tarajal beach were met by Spanish soldiers, who escorted them back towards the border with Morocco.
Spain's Interior Ministry announced that most of the migrants who entered Spanish territory from North Africa have now returned to Morocco.
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After several days of chaos and streets packed with people hoping to find a better life in Spain, the residents of Ceuta woke up on Saturday to a calmer atmosphere.
However, authorities emphasize that the security situation in the autonomous city of about 84 residents still remains fragile.
"Life in this city has been shaken as a result of the incident at the border," said Ceuta President Juan Jesus Vivas.
"The process of returning migrants has started satisfactorily, but it needs to be fully completed. The city has not yet returned to normal," he added.
However, some migrants have decided to stay in Ceuta. Among them is 23-year-old Moroccan Mohamed Hatri.
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"They have closed everything so we can't buy food, to force us to return to our country," he said.
"But even if they close everything down, we will stay here, whether we have food or not."
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Death toll from massive migrant influx towards Ceuta rises to 72
