Heatwaves Cause Over 1000 Deaths in Spain

MSN

Deadly heatwave in Spain claims over 1,100 lives in just two months.

Spain has recorded 1,180 heat-related deaths between 16 May and 13 July 2025, marking a staggering increase of over 1,000 per cent compared to 114 deaths in the same period in 2024, according to data from the Carlos III Health Institute cited by the Spanish Environment Ministry.

The vast majority of victims were aged 65 or older, with women accounting for more than half of the fatalities—a reflection of demographic and physiological vulnerability to extreme heat. The regions most severely affected included Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias, and Cantabria, all situated in northern Spain, where traditionally cooler summer temperatures have risen significantly in recent years. This rise has exposed these areas to heightened climate vulnerability, compounded by limited infrastructure and social preparedness for heatwaves.

During this period, Spain experienced 76 red alerts for extreme heat—the highest level of warning—compared to none during the same timeframe in 2024, underscoring the exceptional nature of the event. Temperatures frequently exceeded 40°C (104°F), contributing to this unprecedented mortality surge. The Environment Ministry described this heatwave as an "event of exceptional intensity," marked by unprecedented increases in average temperatures and a significant rise in heat-attributable mortality.

The number of heat-related deaths notably escalated in the first week of July 2025, reflecting the intensity of the conditions. For context, last summer saw 2,191 deaths attributed to heat-related causes across Spain, highlighting the worsening trend.

These figures align with a recent rapid scientific analysis published on 9 July 2025, which estimated approximately 2,300 heat-related deaths across 12 European cities during a severe heatwave over 10 days in late June and early July. This study emphasised the increasing toll of extreme heat exacerbated by climate change, although it is unclear whether their methodology matches that used in Spain’s national data.

The data has prompted concerns over public health and climate resilience across Spain and neighbouring Western European countries, where extreme heat is becoming more frequent and severe.




PUKMEDIA