MADRID — Spain recorded its highest number of heat-related deaths ever for the month of May, with 101 fatalities linked to high temperatures, according to estimates published Wednesday by the Health Ministry.
The figure is the highest recorded for May since tracking began in 2015 and is 3.6 times higher than the average number of heat-related deaths registered during the month over the past decade, the ministry said.
A late-May heatwave brought record temperatures to 23 provinces across Spain, according to the national meteorological agency AEMET.
The agency also reported that parts of the Mediterranean and Cantabrian seas experienced their warmest May temperatures on record.
The mortality data was released as Spain launched its 2026 national heat prevention plan aimed at reducing illnesses and deaths associated with extreme temperatures.
According to the Health Ministry, an estimated 27,564 people died from causes linked to high temperatures between 2015 and 2025.
The deadliest year was 2022, with 4,789 deaths, followed by 2025 with 3,832.
Health authorities warned that the risk of death increases by between 9.1% and 10.7% for every degree Celsius above established health-risk thresholds.
The ministry said people aged 75 and older remain the most vulnerable group during extreme heat events, while young children, pregnant women and individuals with chronic illnesses also face elevated health risks.
Looking ahead, AEMET forecasts a high probability of above-average temperatures across Spain during June, July and August, particularly in the northern regions, along the Mediterranean coast and in the Balearic Islands.
Source: Saudi Gazette