Over 200 people dead in five days as heatwave scorches Spain
Spain has experienced an extreme heatwave that has claimed the lives of over 200 people since the start of the week, with temperatures climbing above 45 degrees Celsius. Authorities have attributed the deaths to the impact of unusually high temperatures across the country.
The Carlos III University mortality surveillance system in Madrid recorded 212 excess deaths above normal levels over the span of two days as the heatwave affected large parts of the country.
This system aids in analysing mortality data by combining death records to estimate how extreme temperatures affect mortality.
The system uses mortality data and weather conditions to estimate the impact of extreme temperatures on deaths.
Almost 50 per cent of all deaths during the period occurred on Wednesday, with an additional 95 people recorded as dead.
The number of deaths on Tuesday was 66, followed by 38 on Monday and 13 on Sunday.
The country’s meteorological agency, Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (AEMET), warned that the extreme weather conditions were expected to exceed 45 degrees Celsius in some regions on Tuesday and Wednesday, making them the hottest days in the country. The central and northern parts of Spain were the worst-affected areas.
On Thursday, the heatwave began easing in some parts of the country. Despite the drop in temperatures, authorities and officials continued to enlighten the public on safety precautions and health risks linked to the extreme temperatures.
In recent years, Spain has recorded thousands of extreme heat-related deaths.
According to the country’s Ministry of Health, thousands of deaths in the country in recent years have been linked to extreme weather conditions. Between May and September last year, over 3,000 deaths were recorded across the country.
Health experts have warned that heatwaves can become deadly when combined with existing medical conditions, especially among vulnerable groups such as older people and those with pre-existing health issues.
The current climate crisis has left several European countries experiencing extreme heat conditions. This has also been recorded in the United Kingdom, where temperatures exceeded 36 degrees Celsius, and in Germany.
At least six people have died in Germany due to the hot weather, with temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius, while France has also recorded casualties from the heatwave, with at least 18 people dying from heat-related causes.
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