Thousands of migrants cross into Spain's Ceuta on foot, EFE reports

MADRID, July 30 - Thousands of migrants were crossing into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on foot after jumping over the border fence separating the city from Morocco, Spanish state news agency EFE reported on Thursday.

Hundreds of migrants have entered the Spanish north African exclave of Ceuta by sea in recent days, officials said Thursday, with local television images showing them swimming around the frontier and running into the town.

Spain's Civil Guard, maritime Rescue Services and the Red Cross said they rescued migrants from the water. The interior minister acknowledged the country was facing an "extraordinary, exceptional situation."

Over 1,000 illegal migrants have swam into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta over the past days after the nation's Supreme Court prohibited pushbacks at sea.