The Spanish government officially put the death toll at 67 (NPR/Euronews, 1 August 2026), while the figure of 141 comes from the migrant-rights organisation Caminando Fronteras and higher counts were also cited (e.g. 'at least 100' by the Ceuta city leader, Al Jazeera, 6 August 2026). The figure is therefore contested between official and NGO counts.
The claim is supported only by secondary journalistic sources that largely derive the 141 figure from the same NGO count; no primary official Spanish or Moroccan statistical source confirming 141 was located.
The sources were published in early August 2026, before the 15 September 2026 session date, so the MEP could have known them.
Sources
SecondaryMiddle East EyeAt least 141 people died after Moroccan authorities opened the border gates into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, triggering what appears to be Morocco's deadliest migration disaster in recent history.
SecondaryThe Olive PressTHE death toll from Ceuta's migrant tragedy has climbed to 141 after 63 bodies were recovered in Moroccan waters on Tuesday. The count of bodies recovered came from Caminando Fronteras...
SecondaryNPRThe death toll in Spain's Ceuta border crisis with Morocco has climbed to 67, the Spanish government said Saturday.
SecondaryEuronewsSituation in Ceuta 'almost entirely reversed' as death toll climbs to 67, Spain says