Spain's June Heatwave Death Toll Exceeds 1,000
More than 1,000 deaths in Spain were attributed to the recent heatwave that scorched Europe, as the country posted the hottest first six months ever recorded, officials said on Wednesday. At least 1,028 people died of heat-related issues during the heatwave, according to the public Carlos III Health Institute.
This figure is more than double the 407 heat-related deaths recorded in June 2025, which was previously Spain’s hottest June since records began, according to the national weather agency Aemet.
Record-Breaking Temperatures in First Half of 2026
The first six months of 2026 were the hottest in Spain since records started, with temperatures averaging 1.6C above normal levels, Aemet reported in a post on X on Wednesday. “The seven warmest first semesters... have occurred over the past 10 years,” the agency noted.
June 2026 itself ranked as the second-hottest June on record, “with temperatures on average 3.2C above the norm,” Aemet added.
Europe-Wide Heatwave Linked to Climate Change
The heatwave that swept across Europe from late June was the most severe ever recorded on the continent. According to the World Weather Attribution group of scientists, such extreme temperatures would have been “virtually impossible” in June without climate change.
All-time temperature records were broken in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. June records also fell in the United Kingdom and Switzerland. France experienced record-breaking average temperatures, including its highest-ever nighttime temperatures.
