The extreme heat left 1,149 deaths and coincided with fires that already devastated 382,600 hectares, the largest figure in almost two decades.
The heat wave that hit Spain Between August 3 and 18 he left a balance of 1,149 attributable deathsaccording to estimates of Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII). It was one of the longest episodes in the last five decades and had direct consequences in the health and in the territory.
The monitoring system “Momo” of the ISCIIIwhich analyzes daily mortality from historical trends, calculated that excess deaths in those 16 days is related to extreme temperatures. Although the system cannot establish an absolute causality, the figures constitute the best available approach to the impact of the climatic phenomenon.
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Among the external factors that explain excess deaths are the temperatures recorded by the State Meteorology Agency (Aemet), which communicated extraordinarily high values in much of the country. The August case adds to that of July, when Momo had already attributed 1,060 deaths in heatwhich meant an increase greater than 50% compared to 2024.
Fires in the middle of the heat wave
Extreme heat also favored the spread of forest fires. So far from 2025, the European Information System on Forest Fire (EFFIS) estimated that they burned 382,600 hectaresa surface equivalent to the size of the Mallorca Island. This is the highest figure since there are records, exceeding for more than four times the average of the period 2006-2024.
In just 24 hours, the flames razed 38,000 hectaresalmost the same surface as in all 2024. The most affected regions were Extremadura, Galicia and Castilla y Leónwhere streets were cut, railway services were interrupted and a stretch of 50 kilometers of the Camino de Santiago.
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The end of the heat wave was announced
Aemet declared the end of the heat wave and anticipated a decrease in temperatures Together with an increase in moisture, which favors containment tasks. “The evolution is favorable. We are better than yesterday and that two days ago. Fronts and fires are being stabilizedthere is no town at risk and we hope there will be a realojo throughout the next few hours, ”said Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, president of the Junta de Castilla y León.
During a visit to Extremadura, the president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, said that several areas will be declared emergency areaswhich will allow channeling aid for reconstruction.
Source: Ambito
