The number of deaths from the large-scale arrival of migrants from Morocco to Ceuta, a Spanish city in North Africa, reached at least 72 on Sunday.

According to officials, five more bodies were found along the North African coast. The figure is far higher than the statistics Moroccan authorities announced.

More than 50,000 people entered Ceuta via land and sea since Thursday; an unprecedented wave at one of the two land borders of the European Union with Africa that sparked widespread concern within the bloc.

Spanish officials said more than 48,000 people returned to Morocco within 48 hours.