03.06.2026 17:20
A heatwave in Spain in May, reported to have arrived early, has been reported to have caused the deaths of 101 people.
Spain's Health Minister Monica Garcia spoke during the presentation of the national plan, which includes preventive measures against the health effects of extreme temperatures this year.
101 PEOPLE LOST THEIR LIVES
Garcia stated that air temperatures in May were 10 to 15 degrees above average temperatures, and said that 101 people died from health problems caused or triggered by extreme heat.
Garcia warned that "a very hot summer awaits Spaniards," adding, "The problem is no longer just that it is hotter, but that the hot weather arrives earlier each year and our bodies cannot adapt to it. There is a lack of awareness about the risks related to physiological adaptation."
EXTREME HEAT INCREASED HOSPITALIZATIONS BY 10 PERCENT
Health and Climate Change Director Hector Tejero also pointed out that deaths from extreme heat in Spain mostly occur among elderly women in the Basque Country, Asturias, and Galicia, due to their difficulty adapting to the heat.
Tejero reported that extreme heat increased hospitalizations by 10 percent and workplace accidents by 17 percent.
According to Ministry of Health data, the death of 101 people in May was recorded as 3.6 times the monthly average number of deaths from heat over the last 10 years.
According to statistics, 4,813 people in 2022, 3,009 in 2023, 2,012 in 2024, and 3,832 people in 2025 died due to extreme temperatures in Spain. The total number of deaths related to extreme heat in the 2015-2025 period was announced as 27,564.