Over 5,000 heat-related deaths in Spain since June

Spain has recorded over 5,000 heat-related deaths between June and August, marking a record since its official statistics began in 2015, according to data from the Carlos III Health Institute. This figure surpassed previous highs, including 4,652 in 2022 and 3,651 in the same period last year. The estimates were derived from the Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo), which tracks nationwide mortality trends and considers external factors, such as weather data from AEMET, to identify potential causes of increased mortality.

While MoMo cannot definitively link heat to the deaths, it offers the most accurate estimate of fatalities where high temperatures were likely a significant factor. Most excess deaths were attributed to heart attacks and strokes resulting from the body's struggle to maintain stable temperatures. Climate scientists have warned that climate change, caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels, is causing more frequent, intense, and prolonged heatwaves across Europe.

AEMET reported that July was one of the hottest months in mainland Spain since 1961, and new temperature records fell across drought-stricken Europe. The heat and dry conditions fueled devastating wildfires, with Spain experiencing one of its worst in July, leading to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people near Madrid. Unusually high temperatures are expected to continue in Spain this week, with forecasts predicting temperatures exceeding 40°C in the south and west.