Spain has deployed military forces to restore order along its border with Morocco in Ceuta after thousands of migrants reportedly entered the small Spanish enclave, with at least 18 people losing their lives during the attempted crossings.

The deployment followed a request from Ceuta’s local authorities for additional support from Spain’s central government in Madrid as the border situation deteriorated.

The crisis reached a peak on Thursday when large crowds breached the border fence, prompting the reinforcement of security personnel.

Spain’s government said it would deploy the armed forces to support the Civil Guard in maintaining security in the city of Ceuta amid the escalating border crisis.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to visit Ceuta on Friday alongside Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska as the government responds to the escalating border crisis.

Authorities in Ceuta initially reported that at least nine people died during Thursday’s mass border crossing, adding to the 60 migrants who had lost their lives attempting to enter the Spanish enclave in recent months.

However, a spokesperson for Spain’s Interior Ministry said on Friday that the death toll from Thursday’s incident had risen to 18.

The Interior Ministry estimated that about 49,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta within the past 24 hours, according to Reuters.