The heatwave that swept across the Canary Islands in July has resulted in the deaths of six people from heatstroke, heat exhaustion and dehydration. Nationwide, the death toll due to high temperatures reached 771 in Spain for the month, as reported by ISCIII’s Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo).
The MoMo data shows a concerning increase in mortality estimates as the month progressed: 37 deaths were recorded in the first week, 49 in the second, 102 in the third week, and a staggering 586 in the last 10 days of July when the heat was at its most intense.
In total, the system registered 32,582 deaths in July, with an excess of 824 deaths from all causes, 771 of which are attributed to the heat. Of these, 459 were women and 312 were men. The elderly population, particularly those over 65 years of age, were the most affected, accounting for 751 of the estimated deaths.
Regionally, the Community of Madrid reported the highest number of heat-related deaths, with 208 fatalities between July 1st and 31st, followed by Castilla y León with 96 deaths, Castilla-La Mancha with 75, and Catalonia with 73.
Heat-related fatalities for other regions were as follows: Andalucía (69), Galicia (61), Aragón (55), Valencia (45), Extremadura (30), La Rioja (12), Navarra (11), Asturias (10), País Vasco (7), Canary Islands and Murcia (6 each), Balearic Islands (4), Cantabria (1), Ceuta (1), and Melilla (0).
In response to the ongoing heatwave, the Ministry of Health has been actively running a social media campaign urging people to protect themselves from the high temperatures. The campaign emphasises the importance of staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, staying in cool places, and taking extra precautions if they are at higher risk due to age, pregnancy, or preexisting health conditions.
Symptoms of heat stroke include exhaustion, headaches, nausea, dizziness, sweating, cold and damp skin, a rapid and weak pulse, and fever. The Ministry warns against consuming caffeinated, alcoholic, or highly sugary drinks, as they can contribute to dehydration.
Special attention is advised for infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with conditions that may be exacerbated by heat, such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, cancer, mobility impairments, dementia, and substance addiction.
