Around 80,000 people stormed the border in Ceuta in barely one hour.

Error detected

The figure of around 80,000 exceeds the highest published estimate ('over 70,000') and is well above the most commonly cited 50,000-60,000.

The claim that this happened 'in barely one hour' is not supported by any source; the crossing unfolded over several days.

Omissions

• The crossings took place over several days (28-31 July 2026), not within a single hour as the claim implies; compressing three days into 'apenas una hora' materially exaggerates the event.
• Counts vary widely across sources because exact numbers are impossible to establish: 50,000 (RTVE, Euronews), 50,000-60,000 (Elcano), 60,000 (BBC), 'over 70,000' (UK Commons Library).
• Most of those who entered were subsequently returned to Morocco (Euronews reports around 48,300 returns), context absent from the claim.
• If the MEP intended the May 2021 Ceuta crisis, the real figure was around 8,000-10,000 crossings over about two days, making the '80,000 in one hour' claim even further from the facts.

Sources

• SecondaryReal Instituto ElcanoSe calcula que durante tres días entraron en España, procedentes de Marruecos, entre 50.000 y 60.000 personas, en su mayoría, pero no sólo, bordeando a nado.
• SecondaryRTVELa entrada masiva de 50.000 personas a Ceuta provoca la mayor crisis migratoria de la ciudad autónoma desde 2021.
• SecondaryEuronews (Spanish edition)Unas 48.300 de las cerca de 50.000 personas que han entrado irregularmente en Ceuta desde el jueves ya han retornado a Marruecos.
• SecondaryUK House of Commons LibraryAt the end of July 2026, over 70,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish North African territory of Ceuta from Morocco without authorisation.
• SecondaryBBC NewsSpain's prime minister has blamed trafficking gangs after about 60,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco.