Over 1,000 Heat-Related Deaths Recorded in Spain During June

Spain suffered its deadliest June since 2015 as extreme heat waves swept the country, contributing to a total of 1,300 heat-linked fatalities across Europe throughout the final week of the month.

Deadliest Heat Wave Since 2015

Data from the MoMo system, which monitors daily mortality, confirms that June was the deadliest month for heat-related deaths in Spain since 2015. This period marked the second-hottest June in Spain since records began in 1961.

June 23 was recorded as the hottest day on record, with an average temperature of 29.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set on June 29, 2025, by 0.1 degrees. By the final day of the month, nearly the entire country was under heat alerts, with red warnings issued for Andalusia, Cantabria, and the Basque Country.

Health Experts Warn of Rising Risks

Experts cited by RTVE noted that the first heat wave of the year is typically the most dangerous, as the human body has not yet acclimated to extreme temperatures. Since 1975, Spain has recorded 12 heat waves in June, with half of those occurring since 2015.

A Continental Crisis

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported 1,300 heat-related deaths across Europe between June 21 and 28. He emphasized that Europe is the fastest-warming continent, heating at twice the global average.

Ghebreyesus described heat stress as a “silent killer,” noting that European infrastructure, including homes and schools, was not built for such temperatures. Heat stress occurs when the body cannot effectively release excess heat, a condition exacerbated by high humidity.