Spanish authorities have rejected calls to declare a national emergency after a surge of migrants crossed into the North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, despite local officials warning that the city is struggling to cope with the influx.

Ceuta’s regional government had urged Madrid to invoke emergency powers after thousands of migrants arrived in recent days, saying the city’s reception facilities had been overwhelmed.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said it remained committed to protecting public safety and safeguarding the country’s borders but insisted that the situation did not warrant a national emergency or military deployment.

Ceuta, a Spanish territory on Morocco’s northern coast at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, has long been a key migration route into Europe.

Videos circulating online showed groups of mostly Moroccan migrants entering the enclave through the breakwaters at Tarajal beach before making their way onto local roads. Many celebrated after reaching Spanish territory.

While most of the arrivals were young men, families, including women and children, were also among those crossing.

According to Ceuta regional president Juan Jesus Vivas, about 1,500 migrants have reached the enclave by swimming from Morocco over the past week, leaving hundreds without shelter as reception centres exceed capacity.

“We are facing a situation of absolute humanitarian and social emergency,” he said.

He warned that facilities for unaccompanied migrant minors were operating at 2,400 per cent of their intended capacity, underscoring the severe strain the recent influx has placed on the enclave’s reception system.