Ceuta firefighters uncover hidden migrant shelters in extensive underground tunnels
Firefighters in Ceuta discovered a clandestine migrant settlement inside a network of tunnels beneath a university campus while responding to a fire.
Ceuta firefighters uncovered a covert migrant enclave within the Sarchal underground tunnels that run from the beach to the lower floors of the 54 campus. After detecting heavy smoke, they breached a sealed partition and entered a space where migrants had placed mattresses, burned food, urine-filled bottles and damaged clothing. The tunnels, occupied for nearly two months, contain traces of the recent influx, including inflatable rafts and a surfboard.
Residents have been living in unsanitary conditions, hidden from the public eye. Local police units are now moving in to clear the illegal settlement. Neighbourhood rumors about migrants entering through the tunnels have grown, though authorities deny any formal entry route exists.
Why it matters
The discovery highlights hidden migrant inflows and raises safety and humanitarian concerns in Ceuta.
In this story
