Spain records 1,028 heat-related deaths in June

Spain recorded more than 1,000 heat-related deaths last month during an intense and prolonged heat wave, marking the country's highest June mortality toll from heat in over a decade, health officials reported on Wednesday. The Carlos III Health Institute stated that at least 1,028 deaths were attributed to the extreme temperatures, more than double the 407 recorded in June of last year.

The fatalities occurred as Spain endured its second-hottest June on record, according to the national weather agency Aemet. Average temperatures for the month were 3.2 degrees Celsius above normal. The agency also noted that the first six months of 2026 have been the warmest first half of any year since records began, with temperatures 1.6 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average.

At the peak of the heat wave, approximately 35.7 million people, or about 73 percent of Spain's population, were exposed to elevated health risks. Officials highlighted that the extreme conditions placed particular strain on elderly individuals and those with pre-existing health conditions. The heat wave was especially notable in northern regions of Spain, which are typically less accustomed to such intense and...