Ceuta death toll nears 100 as Morocco lists dozens missing

What happened

• Tens of thousands swam or waded into Ceuta in late July, crossing one of the EU's two land borders with Africa.
• The Guardian counts more than 70,000 arrivals, Ceuta's president told MEPs 80,000 crossed; nearly all were returned quickly.
• Ceuta's president briefed European lawmakers in Brussels on Thursday, 6 August, citing a humanitarian emergency and public-order disturbances.
• TASS, citing The Maghreb Times, reports 43 initially listed missing, three later found, 17 added, leaving 57 names.

The view from outside

The Guardian puts Washington in the frame: an International Crisis Group analyst says there is enough evidence to hypothesise Morocco is behind the influx, while stressing there was no clear trigger and that it is impossible to demonstrate. It also notes Morocco's king named a $1bn highway flanking Western Sahara after Donald Trump this week; Russia's TASS reports only the missing-persons count.

What could happen next

• What triggered the crossing remains unexplained; the suggested link to Rabat's ties with Washington is presented as unprovable.
• Morocco says the missing figure may rise and asks families to use official channels rather than social media.
• Ceuta's demand for immediate expulsion of all irregular arrivals now sits with Spain's national authorities, whose response is not reported.