Spain sees 1,180 deaths in heat surge as expert urges protection for elderly

A deadly heatwave has claimed 1,180 lives in Spain since May, with elderly people most at risk, prompting calls for urgent social support.

Spain is witnessing an alarming spike in heat-related deaths, with 1,180 fatalities recorded between 16 May and 13 July, according to the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge. This marks a more than 1,300 percent increase from the same period in 2024, when just 114 deaths were reported.

Professor Javier Martin-Vide, a physical geography expert at the University of Barcelona, told China’s Xinhua news agency that the primary danger from heatwaves is their lethal effect on human health.

"The main threat is that excessive and extreme heat kills. It has a serious impact on health, especially for older people – many of whom live alone and suffer from chronic illnesses," he said.

Martin-Vide urged the implementation of targeted support, including home visits by health and social workers, to help the elderly stay hydrated and avoid heatstroke in poorly ventilated homes.

Government figures confirm the vulnerability of the elderly, with 95 percent of the victims aged over 65 and 59.2 percent being women.

In the first week of July alone, deaths linked to extreme temperatures rose by 47 percent compared to all of June. Temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius in several areas, prompting 76 red alerts nationwide. No red alerts had been issued during the same timeframe last year.

The northern regions of Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias, and Cantabria were among the hardest hit.

Spain’s meteorological agency, AEMET, recorded the highest-ever national average temperature for June at 23.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2017. AEMET predicts a 70 percent likelihood that July’s average will exceed historical norms as well.

Martin-Vide noted, "The current temperatures resemble those of the hottest years in August, not what’s typically expected for June or July."

Copied