Spain: Over 1,100 people die from extreme heat

More than 1,100 people have died in Spain in the last two months because of extremely high temperatures. The Environment Ministry shared this information on Monday. From May 16 to July 13, a total of 1,180 people lost their lives due to heat-related causes. This is a big increase compared to the same period last year, when only 114 people died. Most of those who died were over 65 years old, and more than half were women. The northern regions of Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias, and Cantabria were the most affected. These areas usually have cooler summers, but temperatures there have risen sharply

More than 1,100 people have died in Spain in the last two months because of extremely high temperatures. The Environment Ministry shared this information on Monday. From May 16 to July 13, a total of 1,180 people lost their lives due to heat-related causes. This is a big increase compared to the same period last year, when only 114 people died. Most of those who died were over 65 years old, and more than half were women. The northern regions of Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias, and Cantabria were the most affected. These areas usually have cooler summers, but temperatures there have risen sharply in recent years. Like many other Western European countries, Spain has been suffering from extreme heat lately. In some places, temperatures have gone over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Officials said the heat this year is an “event of exceptional intensity.” The average temperatures are higher than ever recorded, and the number of deaths linked to heatwaves has also jumped. In this period alone, there were 76 red alerts for extreme heat, compared to none during the same months last year. Last summer, Spain recorded 2,191 deaths related to heat. This year’s numbers are already alarming, with many experts worried about what might come as the summer continues. The Spanish data was released shortly after a study by scientists in the UK estimated that around 2,300 people died in 12 European cities during a severe heatwave at the start of July.