June heat in Spain leads to over 1000 deaths

In Spain last month, 1.029 excess deaths were recorded due to extreme heat. According to official data, a heat wave lasting five days and pushing temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius made June the second hottest June on record. MoMo data, the daily mortality monitoring system of the Ministry of Health, showed that this June reached the highest number of heat-related deaths since 2015.

Last month, average temperatures hovered 3,2 degrees above normal. The Spanish meteorological agency AEMET stated that this was the second hottest June recorded after June 2025. At the peak of the heat wave on 23 Haziran, 35.7 million people, corresponding to approximately 73% of the country's population, faced health risks due to the heat; 38% of them were at high risk.

Since 1975, 12 heat waves have been experienced in June, half of which occurred in the last ten years. All of the 13 hottest Junes recorded since 1961 have taken place in the 21st century. AEMET spokesperson Ruben del Campo said that this is proof that heat waves are starting to be seen more frequently at the beginning of summer.

Between 1-30 Haziran, 165 maximum temperature records (145 monthly, 20 all-time) and 225 minimum temperature records (180 monthly, 45 all-time) were broken at local measuring stations. The agency added that the first heat wave of the summer was "extraordinary not only in its intensity, but also in its duration and persistence" in the north of the country.

This data shows that the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly evident. Experts emphasize that the increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves poses serious health risks, especially for vulnerable groups. It is stated that Spain needs to strengthen early warning systems and public health measures to adapt to this situation.