The early summer heat in Spain caused a record number of victims in May: 101 people died due to the exceptionally high temperatures, more than three and a half times as many as normal. According to the Ministry of Health, such early heat waves are very dangerous, even before summer officially starts.
“That figure is 3.6 times higher than the average number of heat deaths in May over the past decade,” the ministry emphasizes. The government warns of the serious impact of early heat waves on health: “Even before the start of summer.”
Temperature records
Temperature records have been recorded in several Spanish cities in recent days, especially in the north. According to the national weather service Aemet, these were ‘exceptionally high temperatures for a month of May’ that also lasted for a remarkably long time.
The mortality risk increases by almost 10 percent per degree above the critical health limit. To protect the population, a prevention plan has been in force since May 13 that works with color codes, from green (no risk) to red (high risk). That plan runs until September 30.
Record year 2022
All told, the heat in Spain claimed 27,564 lives between 2015 and the summer of 2025. The absolute record year remains 2022 with 4,789 deaths, followed by 2025 with 3,832 heat deaths.
LISTEN ALSO to our daily news podcast Join the conversation with AD
WATCH ALSO to our most popular news videos: