Thousands of migrants crossed into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco on Thursday, prompting local authorities to call for a national emergency and military deployment to restore border control.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said it would ensure public safety and protect the country’s borders but said migration concerns did not justify declaring a national emergency.

“The situation is absolute chaos,” said Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta. He said thousands of people had crossed and the border had “totally collapsed.”

Videos showed large groups, mostly young Moroccan men but also families with women and children, entering through the Tarajal beach area. Some migrants shouted “Viva España!” as they arrived. Authorities have not yet identified the reason behind the sudden surge.

The crossings followed a sharp increase in attempts to reach Ceuta by sea on Wednesday, when at least three people died while trying to swim from Morocco. Moroccan authorities have not publicly commented on the situation.

Spain said Morocco was cooperating to stop further crossings and help return those who entered illegally. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is expected to visit Ceuta on Friday.

Ceuta’s regional leader Juan Jesús Vivas urged Madrid to declare a national emergency and send more police and soldiers to secure the border, saying additional forces were needed to protect residents and maintain control.

More than 1,500 migrants had entered Ceuta in the previous week, overwhelming reception facilities, officials said. Spain’s Interior Ministry said nearly 3,000 migrants had reached the territory by land or sea as of July 15.

The latest influx recalled a similar crisis in May 2021, when more than 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta over two days during a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Morocco. Ceuta, a Spanish territory on Africa’s northern coast, has long been a major entry point for migrants seeking a better life in Europe.