Spain has reported a dramatic increase in heatstroke and dehydration-related deaths for the hottest months of last year. According to the national statistical agency INE, the number of deaths due to these causes between May and August 2022 increased by 88% compared to the same period of the previous year. 2022 was the hottest year in Spain since weather records began.
Rise in heat-related deaths
The institute stated that 122 people died from heatstroke and 233 people succumbed to dehydration during these months. In the entire year of 2021, these two causes of death affected 189 individuals, according to the data.
Many of the additional deaths were attributed to pre-existing chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and dementia, which increase the risk of mortality during extreme heat, as stated by INE. In the summer months between May and August 2022, a total of 157,580 people died, which is 26,849 more deaths than in 2019.
These figures emerge as the country experiences the first heatwave of the current year. The national weather service Aemet has forecasted temperatures up to 44 degrees Celsius for parts of Spain until Thursday.
Record-breaking temperatures
Last week, temperatures reached 37 degrees in Ourense, in the northwest of Spain. According to Aemet, temperatures in the south of the country exceeded 44 degrees on Monday. Several Spanish regions have been put on high alert. In the capital city Madrid, the ongoing heatwave raised temperatures to over 38 degrees since Sunday. In El Granado, in the southwest, record values of 44.4 degrees were measured.
Authorities in the south of the country reported the death of a 47-year-old farmer due to heatstroke. This is the first documented heat-related death in Spain this year. The news agency AFP reported another fatality.
Rocket launch postponed due to wildfire risk
The inaugural flight of the Spanish rocket “Miura 1” was postponed due to the increased risk of wildfires caused by drought and heat. The cancellation was necessary “to ensure the safety of the area where the launch is taking place,” said the rocket manufacturer, PLD Space.
This is already the third postponement of the launch within a few weeks. The rocket was initially scheduled to launch at the end of May from a military base in the southwestern province of Huelva. The first launch was canceled due to high-altitude winds, and the second in mid-June due to a technical issue.
According to the World Meteorological Organization, Europe should expect an increase in deadly heatwaves due to global warming. Experts suggest that Spain is likely one of the countries most affected by climate change.