Catalonia records more heat-related deaths this July than in all of last summer.

BarcelonaThe high temperatures this July have left 250 heat-related deaths in Catalonia. This is an average of eight deaths per day, and last month's figures already exceed those recorded during the entire summer of 2024, when 226 heat-related deaths were recorded in the country. These are data from the Ministry of Health's Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo).

The latest indicators already indicated that this summer, unfortunately, would be a record-breaking one: the same system estimated Between May 16 and July 13, 300 people died in Catalonia from heat-related causes. In June, the number is estimated to have risen to 55.

Across Spain, there were 1,060 heat-related deaths last month, representing a 57% increase compared to the same period last year. Given the exponential increase in these indicators, the Minister of Health, Mónica García, pointed out that heat causes mortality in vulnerable people and warned of the need to protect themselves. "Heat is one of the risk factors that has the greatest impact at this time of year, increasing mortality and increasing heat exhaustion and worsening some pathologies," the minister warned during an interview on RNE this Tuesday.

Prevention

Along these same lines, García explained that his team at the ministry has been developing campaigns to raise public awareness about heat waves and the importance of taking protective measures, especially for the most vulnerable groups. Along these same lines, he emphasized the need for the population to stay hydrated and review the maps prepared by the Ministry of Health to determine the heat risk in each area.