Why did Spain and Morocco give different migrant death tolls?

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Discrepancies in Migrant Death Tolls Between Spain and Morocco

Spain and Morocco reported significantly different figures for the number of migrants who died attempting to reach Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, with Morocco's interior ministry stating 11 fatalities and Spain reporting at least 72 deaths. This divergence in reported tolls stems from differing assessments and potentially includes a variety of factors influencing the counting and identification of victims.
Moroccan Ministry's Account of Fatalities

Morocco's interior ministry detailed that among the 11 individuals who lost their lives, 10 drowned, and one person died after falling from a rocky area. The ministry indicated that Morocco was collaborating with Spanish authorities to verify the death toll and identify the bodies recovered on Spanish soil. This official count contrasts sharply with figures provided by Spanish authorities.
Spanish Assessment of Higher Death Toll

Spanish officials stated that at least 72 people died during the surge of migrants attempting to cross into Ceuta. This higher figure suggests that Spanish authorities may have a broader scope of counting, potentially including individuals whose bodies were recovered or identified within Spanish jurisdiction or who were reported missing by those who successfully crossed. The discrepancy highlights the challenges in accurately documenting casualties during such mass migration events.
Moroccan Government's Citing of Contributing Factors

The Moroccan ministry attributed the sudden influx and subsequent deaths to several factors, including the "malicious exploitation" of social media and the "spread of misleading information" that may have encouraged the perilous journey. Additionally, the ministry cited "misinterpretations of legal provisions," referencing a Spanish Supreme Court ruling from July 8 concerning the expedited return of sea migrants. The ministry also reported approximately 40,000 illegal attempts to cross into Ceuta and 1,135 attempts into Melilla, with the latter group being immediately returned to Moroccan territory.
Human Rights Group's Higher Victim Estimate

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) has presented an even higher estimate of casualties, reporting "nearly 130 victims" and indicating that dozens more remain missing. This figure, provided by an independent human rights organisation, further underscores the significant gap between the official Moroccan government count and other reported numbers, suggesting a potentially higher human cost than initially acknowledged by Morocco's interior ministry.

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Why did Spain and Morocco give different migrant death tolls?

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