Spain is grappling with one of the deadliest summers in its history as extreme heat has killed at least 2,405 people and fueled massive wildfires that have already destroyed more than 120,000 hectares of forest.

According to the country’s Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo), heat-related deaths this year have already surpassed last year’s toll of 2,012 recorded between May 15 and September 30. In just the first two weeks of August alone, 931 people lost their lives to soaring temperatures.

Spain has been hit by its second major heatwave of the summer over the past two weeks. Data from the State Meteorological Institute (AEMET) shows that on August 16, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius at 224 weather stations nationwide.

The extreme conditions have also fueled what authorities describe as the worst forest fires in Spain’s history, causing extensive damage to homes, livelihoods, and natural ecosystems. Large-scale blazes continue to rage across several regions, prompting mass evacuations and straining firefighting resources.

Despite the devastation, forecasters at AEMET expect the current heatwave to gradually lose intensity by the end of the week, offering some relief to the battered nation.

Still, with thousands dead and vast landscapes scorched, the impact of Spain’s 2025 summer of fire and heat is already being counted as one of the gravest climate-related disasters in recent memory. (ILKHA)