The heat wave in Spain has already claimed the lives of 360 people since July 10. This is reported by the Spanish newspaper ‘La Vanguardia’ based on data from the Carlos III health institute. Yesterday alone, 123 people died as a result of the extremely high temperatures. In neighboring Portugal, 238 more deaths have already been counted between 7 and 13 July than in the same period last year, reports Lusa news agency.
Rewatch: Pilot dies when fire-fighting plane crashes in Portugal
The day before, there were 93 heat deaths, according to the newspaper. At the end of this week it was scorching hot in Spain. Record temperatures of 45 degrees were measured in some places.
Since the start of the heat wave last Sunday, the number of deaths has steadily increased. On July 10, 15 deaths were registered as a result of the heat. A day later, 28 people died. Last Tuesday 41 heat deaths were counted and a day later 60.
Yesterday it became known that it mainly concerns the elderly who were already weakened by diseases and for whom the high temperatures were too much. It will remain very hot in Spain in the coming days, so the number of heat deaths is likely to rise. More than 700 people died during the first heat wave in June.
Even slightly younger people can succumb to the heat. For example, on Friday there was a sixty-year-old street sweeper who suddenly collapsed. The emergency services who arrived on the scene measured a body temperature of 41.6 degrees. The man was taken to hospital, but died there.
The extra deaths in Portugal are also explained by the heat wave.
Studies show that in Spain an average of 1,300 people die every year from the heat. That is remarkably less than before, partly due to national measures after the deadly heat wave of 2003, when more than 6,000 people died in the country in two weeks. Air conditioning is now more often used in retirement homes.
In Spain, the authorities advise the population to drink enough water and to postpone physically strenuous activities if possible and to leave the house only in the morning or evening. In the coming days, the mercury is expected to drop to values below 40 degrees in many places.
Also see: Does white clothing help with the heat?
Do not leave a bottle of water in the car and do not turn on the air conditioning too loud in the bedroom: this is how you prepare for the heat (+)
47 degrees in Portugal: is southern Europe becoming unlivable? “I’m worried about desertification, maybe I’ll return to Belgium one day” (+)
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.