Spain has reported 1,029 deaths attributed to extreme heatwaves observed throughout the past month.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, this data was released by the Spanish Ministry of Health's daily mortality monitoring system, known as "MoMo".
The report indicates that the deaths recorded between June 1 and June 30 are directly linked to the severe weather conditions. This figure marks the highest number of heat-related fatalities recorded in the country since 2015.
During the past month, temperatures in several regions of Spain exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, making this the second-hottest June on record. According to the State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), the average temperature in June was 3.2 degrees above the climatic norm.
AEMET spokesperson Ruben del Campo noted that all 13 of the hottest Junes recorded since 1961 have occurred within the 21st century, highlighting a concerning trend in climate patterns.
The heatwave reached its peak on June 23, placing approximately 73 percent of the country's population—roughly 35.7 million people—at health risk. Experts emphasize that heatwaves have become increasingly frequent over the last decade. In June alone, 165 maximum temperature records were broken at meteorological stations across the country, alongside 225 instances of record-high minimum temperatures, indicating that the air did not cool sufficiently even during nighttime hours.
Heatwaves are periods of abnormally hot weather that typically last two or more days. As climate change continues to impact global weather patterns, European nations like Spain are increasingly implementing public health protocols to mitigate the risks associated with prolonged exposure to extreme heat.
