By PERKIN AMALARAJ, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
A heavy storm in Ceuta has left the Spanish enclave reeking after it was flooded with excrement that was left by migrants who used drains as toilets.
The coastal city, enveloped by Morocco, is in the midst of a migration crisis that began at the end of July, when up to 80,000 people flooded into the city over the course of a few days.
Though the majority of them left shortly after, thousands remain in the enclave, causing tensions with locals.
With nowhere to go, the migrants have turned drains and pipes into makeshift toilets, according to local media.
This human waste flooded the beaches of Ceuta on Monday, when a heavy storm hit the city.
Footage taken that day showed murky streaks cutting through the sea on the coast as heavy rain fell.
The streaks in the water came from the beach, where what appears to be human waste flowed down.
Local media also reported that the heavy rain pushed 'plastic, cans, bottles, and wet wipes' into the sea.
A heavy storm in Ceuta has left the Spanish enclave reeking after it was flooded with excrement that was left by migrants who used drains as toilets
Footage taken that day showed murky streaks cutting through the sea on the coast as heavy rain fell
The mix of rubbish and waste left an 'unpleasant smell' according to reports
The potent mix of rubbish and human waste left a 'strong, unpleasant odour' for Ceuta residents, according to reports.
Many of the remaining migrants, including minors, have had to sleep in poor conditions or now-demolished makeshift camps.
Their presence has fueled social tensions in Ceuta and has become a political issue across Spain, where opposition parties hope to use migration concerns to unseat the progressive government in next month’s elections.
Earlier this month, Spanish police and soldiers removed a migrant camp in Ceuta ahead of a visit from King Felipe and Queen Letizia to the North African enclave.
Spanish police arrived at El Guano esplanade on October 11, where hundreds of migrants had been camping in makeshift shelters following earlier clearances of settlements on nearby beaches.
Migrants were put on buses and taken to reception centres for police processing, while cleaning crews moved in to clear the esplanade and beach.
Some migrants fled into nearby hills to avoid being put on buses.
More than 350 police officers from various units were involved, the interior ministry said in a statement, adding it was the fifth such operation in Ceuta in recent weeks 'aimed at clearing public areas of the city'.