Spain (Monitoring Desk) — The number of deaths linked to extreme heat in Spain during the summer of 2026 has exceeded 5,000.
According to Spain’s Carlos III Health Institute, an estimated 5,232 excess deaths were associated with extreme temperatures between May 15 and August 30, 2026.
An initial estimate indicates that 2,147 deaths were linked to extreme heat during August alone. Around 5,048 of the victims were over the age of 65, while people aged over 85 were the most severely affected.
Spain’s previous record for the highest number of deaths associated with extreme heat was 4,789 in 2022, a figure surpassed in 2026.
Authorities said these figures are not based on death certificates directly identifying heat as the cause of death. Instead, they are statistical estimates used to assess the possible number of excess deaths caused by extreme temperatures compared with the normal mortality rate.
The summer of 2026 was exceptionally hot in Spain. July was among the hottest months on record, while the country also experienced several severe heatwaves.