Spain estimates 212 heat-related deaths in 4 days
Spain’s public mortality-monitoring system (MoMo) estimated that high temperatures were linked to 212 deaths between June 21 and 24, as the country’s first official heat wave of 2026 brought temperatures near 40°C (104°F) and higher across large areas.
Satellite image of Spain and Portugal acquired at 08:00 UTC on June 24, 2026. Credit: EUMETSAT/Meteosat, Zoom Earth, The Watchers
The reported total rose each day during the four-day period, from 13 deaths on June 21 to 38 on June 22, 66 on June 23, and 95 on June 24.
Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, described the episode as the country’s first official heat wave of the year. Orange heat alerts were in place in 13 of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities on June 21, while the Basque Country was under a red alert. The heat was forecast to persist until Thursday, June 25.
Temperatures reached or exceeded 40°C (104°F) at numerous locations during the episode. Cantabria registered 43.7°C (110.7°F), described as the highest temperature recorded in the northern region.
AEMET’s forecast for Spain on June 25 shows a fall in maximum temperatures across broad inland areas, while strong thunderstorms and heavy showers are expected in Galicia, the Cantabrian region, and the upper Ebro basin. Heat warnings remain active in some areas, including parts of Mallorca and Girona, where maximum temperatures are forecast to reach about 36°C (96.8°F) and 34°C (93.2°F), respectively.
MoMo is designed to monitor daily all-cause mortality and estimate deaths associated with temperature extremes using mortality data and meteorological information.
References:
1 Live Dashboard – MoMo – Accessed June 25, 2026
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