In the night of 11 September 2026 at the Naves del Tarajal in Ceuta 42 makeshift shelters burned down. According to the fire service, several vehicles and waste containers were also damaged. Authorities and consistent media reports said that the operations were obstructed and emergency workers were occasionally attacked; police are investigating possible causes of the fire and those responsible.
The incident is part of a series of incidents since late July that have placed considerable strain on the autonomous city. Night-time fires have repeatedly been reported in Ceuta, including in outlying areas such as Monte de la Tortuga, as well as vehicles and containers set alight. Media reports and operational records have also documented clashes between groups at the scene and attacks on police, aid organisations and journalists. There is still no confirmed information on what caused individual fires.
The central government has formally raised the security alert level. Under the Real Decreto 681/2026 which came into force on 25 August 2026, the situation in Ceuta was classified as a matter of national security. The Delegación del Gobierno has since been closely coordinating with the Guardia Civil and other services. Authorities say the priorities are containing fires, protecting emergency workers and securing the shelters.
Support for those affected is also under way. Official sources report that hundreds of people have been accommodated in makeshift shelters since the recent fires. The aim is to activate additional capacity in the city and on mainland Spain to stabilise the situation in the coming days.
The crisis has also had political consequences within the administration. Following the publication of communications that the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia had sent to the Delegación del Gobierno and the Guardia Civil, controversy arose over information flows. Regional sources reported the resignation of the head of the Government Delegate’s cabinet at the Delegación.
Emergency workers warn of further risks: fires on the outskirts of the city could spread to wooded areas, while repeated attacks are making the services’ work more difficult. Investigations into the fires on the night of 11 September 2026, including the possibility of an accidental or deliberate cause at Naves del Tarajal, are ongoing.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).