Spain Sets Record Amid Extreme Heat, More Than 5,000 People Die

High temperatures during the summer have caused more than 5,000 deaths in Spain. This is the highest toll recorded for the June–August period since 2015, when these statistics began to be compiled.

The Carlos III Health Institute announced that 5,111 heat-related deaths were recorded during these three months. Broken down by month, 937 cases were recorded in June, 2,025 in July and a further 2,149 in August.

This year’s toll has surpassed the record set in 2022, when 4,652 deaths caused by high temperatures were reported during the same period. The number of deaths was 3,651 in 2025, while in 2024 it reached around 1,977.

The statistics were compiled through Spain’s MoMo system, which tracks mortality levels daily and compares recorded cases with forecasts based on historical data. The calculations also use temperatures reported by Spain’s meteorological service, Aemet.

This year, the country has faced an exceptionally hot summer and several consecutive waves of extreme temperatures. July 2026 ranked among the hottest months ever measured in Spain. Aemet also described it as the driest July since records began in 1961.

Forecasts from the meteorological service indicate that September could also begin with temperatures significantly above average. In certain areas, they could be more than 10 degrees Celsius above the typical levels for this period.

According to experts, the increase in heatwaves and their growing intensity are linked to climate change. Spain is considered one of the European countries most at risk from extreme temperatures.