The heatwave caused 1,180 deaths in Spain between May 16 and July 13, 2025, most of them elderly people

Spain recorded an alarming 1,180 deaths during the heatwave, compared with just 114 during the same period last year. The worst affected regions were Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias and Cantabria, renowned for their cool summers, now transformed by climate change. Most deaths occurred in the first week of July, when authorities issued 76 red alerts. Experts warn that if the trend continues, 2025 could bring even more heat-related deaths.