Almost all of the tens of thousands of migrants who entered Spain's enclave of Ceuta in North Africa had left by Saturday, officials said, as some EU countries bolstered their border controls over the sudden influx.
An estimated 60,000 migrants entered Ceuta over just a few days from neighbouring Morocco, the head of the enclave's regional government, Juan Jesus Vivas, told reporters, but by Saturday Spain's interior minister said almost all had left.
"The situation has been almost entirely reversed," Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters.
Under the watch of Spanish soldiers and police on Saturday morning, the remaining young migrants continued crossing back over the border to Morocco, AFP journalists saw.
Any who lingered too long on the coastal path were immediately ushered back out by the soldiers.
To cross into Ceuta, many swam around a small border barrier that juts out into the Mediterranean.
At least 67 people died in the attempt, said Grande-Marlaska providing updated figures on Saturday.
The sudden influx of migrants had sparked political panic in Europe.
'Adios’
Twenty-two EU countries issued a joint open letter on Saturday calling for a video meeting of the bloc's interior ministers "as a matter of urgency" to agree a speedy coordinated response, and to "prevent further uncontrolled crossings".
France has tightened checks on its border with Spain and said it would increase its police presence there fivefold to 334 officers and gendarmes by Saturday.
Italy suspended its Schengen agreement with Spain allowing for visa-free movement between borders as of Saturday for one month.
Several European countries had suggested Spain's membership in the Schengen free movement zone should be suspended, though that was virtually impossible in practice.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, in a letter to the heads of the European Commission and European Council, blasted the "selfish" reaction by some EU countries. He backed a video meeting of interior ministers.
Madrid has already rushed troops, police, drones, divers and boats to the North African outpost that it has run for centuries.
After a night of wandering the beaches and streets of Ceuta, and dozens of men sleeping on the sand, journalists observed on Saturday some young people turning back to say "adios" or "goodbye" to officers before crossing back to Morocco.
More soldiers stood guard on the small beach next to the border fence, positioned under parasols in the morning.
Spain's interior ministry said a new pneumatic barrier 500 metres (1,640 feet) in length was installed near the border post to reinforce security.
Ceuta, a territory of 18.5 square kilometres (seven square miles), and the nearby enclave of Melilla are Europe's only two land borders with Africa.
Previous migrant surges have occurred during tensions between Spain and Morocco, including in 2021, which led more than 10,000 migrants to enter Ceuta in just two days.
