– MADRID, Spain
Spain has recorded its hottest first half of the year on record, amid an intense heatwave that swept across Europe and claimed more than 1,000 lives in the country during June alone.
Official data from the Carlos III Health Institute shows 1,028 additional deaths attributed to heat-related causes in June 2026. This figure more than doubles the 407 heat-related deaths recorded in June 2025, which had already been the hottest June on record. The majority of the fatalities affected vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, due to the soaring temperatures across the country.
The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) confirmed that the first half of 2026 was the warmest on record, with average temperatures 1.6 degrees Celsius above normal. June became the second hottest June on record, with an average temperature 3.2 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average. The agency noted that seven of the warmest first halves of the year on record have occurred in the last decade, demonstrating a clear warming trend.
The heat wave swept across Europe, contributing to more than 1,300 additional deaths across the continent, according to the World Health Organization. Temperature records were broken in several countries, including Germany, which reached 41.7 degrees Celsius, and France, which recorded around 1,000 additional deaths during the peak of the extreme temperatures.
Experts attribute the intensity of this early summer heat to climate change, and scientists warn that such events are becoming more frequent and severe. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation as cooler weather arrives, although a full assessment of the impact on public health could take time.