The heatwave that affected Spain for 16 days in August was the „most intense on record” in the country, announced the National Meteorological Agency (Aemet) on the X social network on Sunday.
According to provisional data, it surpassed the heatwave of July 2022, with temperatures 4.6 degrees Celsius higher than those recorded during a normal heatwave. During the previous record heatwave in 2022, this temperature difference was 4.5 degrees Celsius, stated Aemet.
The August heatwave ended on August 18, and the period between August 8 and 17 was the hottest ever recorded in Spain since at least 1950, estimated Aemet.
According to the estimates of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), 1,149 deaths can be attributed to the August heatwave.
The institute's MoMo system studies daily variations in general mortality compared to what would be expected based on historical series. It then integrates factors such as temperatures reported by the National Meteorological Agency.
The system cannot establish an absolute causal link between the recorded deaths and the climatic conditions, but these figures represent the best estimate of the number of deaths for which the heatwave could have been the determining factor.
In July, MoMo had already attributed approximately 1060 deaths to the heat, representing an increase of over 50% compared to July 2024.
The heatwave has favored huge vegetation fires that are still devastating Spain and Portugal, causing eight deaths, four in each country, and destroying over 400,000 hectares between the two countries.