Over 5,000 deaths attributable to heat were recorded in Spain between June 1 and August 31, according to data from the Carlos III Health Institute, which indicates the highest number for this period since the beginning of the historical series in 2015. In total, there were 5,111 deaths related to high temperatures over the three months.
The institute, based in Madrid, attributed 2,149 deaths to heat in August, 2,025 in July, and 937 in June, according to data consulted by AFP. The number exceeds the previous record for the same period, recorded in 2022, when 4,652 heat-attributable deaths were counted.
This year's death toll represents a significant increase over the previous record, showing a growing trend of mortality associated with extreme heat in Spain. The situation positions 2023 as the year with the most heat-related deaths in the period since 2015.
Last week, Germany had already announced the recording of a record number of 15,800 heat-related deaths this summer, indicating that the phenomenon is not limited to Spain alone and affects various European countries.
