Spain heat deaths hit record

Spain endured a brutal summer in 2024, when more than 6,700 people died from heat-related causes. The figures, compiled by Barcelona-based ISGlobal, place Spain second only to Italy in Europe’s extreme-heat death toll. Across the continent, researchers estimate over 62,000 fatalities last summer were linked to soaring temperatures.

The danger is far from over. Spain’s MoMo monitoring system has already logged over 2,100 deaths in August 2025 alone, the highest monthly figure since records began. With more hot weeks still to count, experts warn this year could surpass 2024.

UK and Ireland face their own heat threat

The crisis extends far beyond the Mediterranean.

• England recorded 1,311 heat-associated deaths across four severe heat episodes in 2024, according to the UK Government information.

• Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland reported smaller but significant spikes in mortality during the same heatwaves, reflecting the growing reach of extreme temperatures even in cooler climates.

• Ireland currently averages only a few dozen heat-related deaths each year, but modelling shows numbers could climb sharply to over 500 annually later this century if global warming continues.

These figures underline that no part of the British Isles is immune to the health impacts of hotter summers.

Who is most at risk

Spain’s data highlight that older adults and people with chronic health conditions are most vulnerable. Women are consistently over-represented in the fatality statistics, a pattern echoed in UK reports.

Unexpectedly, Spain’s inland provinces—Palencia, Ávila and Zamora—recorded higher death rates than the famously hot coastal cities, where sea breezes and better infrastructure provide some relief.

Climate change behind the numbers

Europe is heating at twice the global average. Scientists estimate that nearly 70% of heat-related deaths in 2024 were directly driven by human-induced climate change.
A new forecasting system can predict dangerous heat peaks up to a week in advance, giving authorities time to open cooling centres, alert vulnerable groups and modify work schedules—but only if governments act swiftly.

Spain must lead on adaptation

Health experts warn that Spain must strengthen its defences before deadly summers become routine. Expanding early-warning systems is a top priority, ensuring that rural communities and smaller towns receive alerts in time to act. Homes and public buildings also need retrofitting to reduce indoor heat, from improved ventilation to better insulation. Just as crucial is targeted outreach to elderly residents and people living alone, who are most at risk when temperatures soar.

Without decisive action on these fronts—and wider efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions—summers like 2024 could become the norm, threatening thousands more lives in Spain, the UK and Ireland alike.

Source: RTVE