Spain blames over 1,000 excess deaths on heatwave, in second-hottest June ever

Spain and France Brace for Another Heatwave as Death Toll Exceeds 1,000

Spain and France are bracing for another possible heatwave that could bring temperatures of 44C (111F) over the coming days, as figures show that June’s extreme heat was responsible for more than 2,000 excess deaths in the two countries, Deutsche Welle reported.

Spain’s state meteorological agency, Aemet, said a mass of dry and very hot air would bring persistently high temperatures to much of Spain from Saturday, with parts of the south-east potentially reaching 42C to 44C on Tuesday. “Temperatures will begin to rise over the weekend and we can’t rule out another heatwave,” said Rubén del Campo, an Aemet spokesperson. The agency warned that high temperatures could increase the likelihood of forest fires and urged older people and those with cardiovascular problems to take extra care.

Aemet said last month was the second-warmest June on record, surpassed only by June 2025, with an average temperature 3.2C (5.8F) above the norm. This data is echoed by the South China Morning Post, which also reported that average temperatures last month were 3.2 degrees higher than normal, making it the second-hottest June on record after June 2025.

Provisional figures from Spain and France show that about 1,000 people lost their lives in each country because of the extreme heat, according to Deutsche Welle. Data from Spain’s health ministry’s daily mortality monitoring system, MoMo, showed 1,029 excess deaths attributable to high temperatures in June. The South China Morning Post also reported 1,029 excess deaths, while Deutsche Welle’s report mentioned that this was the most deaths attributed to heat in June since 2015. France’s public health agency said the 10-day late June heatwave had caused about 1,000 additional deaths compared with previous months between 24 and 28 June, with a final figure not yet released.

The recent heatwave was the most severe on record in Europe, according to Deutsche Welle. Temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) broke records in France, Germany and other European countries, the outlet reported. The World Health Organization (WHO) has blamed the heatwave for more than 1,300 additional deaths across Europe, with that number likely to rise.

At the heatwave’s peak on June 23, 35.7 million people – roughly 73 per cent of Spain’s population – were exposed to health risks due to the heat, with 38 per cent facing high risk, the South China Morning Post reported. There have been 12 heatwaves in June since 1975, with half occurring in the past decade, and all 13 hottest Junes since records began in 1961 occurred in the 21st century.

Scientists have said the heatwave, which was the most severe and widespread to hit western Europe, was possible only due to the climate crisis driven by fossil fuel burning, Deutsche Welle reported.

Nicolas Revel, the head of hospitals in the Paris area, said he did not expect the excess death toll to match the 15,000 recorded in 2003, according to Deutsche Welle.

As Spain and France prepare for potentially record-breaking temperatures again, authorities are urging caution, particularly for vulnerable populations.