Spain has recorded nearly 4,500 heat-related deaths since the beginning of June, marking the highest number for the period since 2022, according to data from the public Carlos III Health Institute.

A total of 4,458 heat-related deaths were estimated between June 1 and Aug. 19, compared with 3,073 during the same period last year and 1,890 in 2024.

The latest figure is just below the 4,520 heat-related deaths recorded during the corresponding period in 2022, making this summer one of Spain’s deadliest in recent years in terms of heat-related mortality.

The figures come as Spain and other parts of Europe have endured repeated periods of extreme heat, with high temperatures also contributing to severe wildfire conditions across parts of the country.

The mortality figures were calculated using Spain’s Mortality Monitoring System, known as MoMo, which tracks daily deaths across the country and compares them with historical mortality patterns.

The system also incorporates meteorological information from Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) to assess whether unusual increases in deaths are likely to be associated with extreme weather conditions, including high temperatures.

Although MoMo cannot establish a direct cause of death in individual cases, health authorities consider it one of the most reliable tools for estimating deaths in which extreme heat is likely to have played a decisive role.

The latest figures highlight the growing health impact of prolonged heatwaves, particularly on vulnerable populations, as Spain continues to experience increasingly severe periods of extreme summer temperatures. (ILKHA)