Mortality in Spain increased during last year's scorching summer

(Patria) - Record heat in Spain in the summer of 2022 caused more than 350 deaths from heatstroke and dehydration and was a decisive factor in the increase in mortality by 20.5 percent, official data showed, AFP reported.

The National Statistics Institute (INE) stated in a press release that 157,580 people died in the summer months between May and August, 26,849 more than in 2019, before the Covid pandemic.

"Among the causes of death directly related to heat were heatstroke (122 cases compared to 47 in 2019) and dehydration (233 cases compared to 109)," it stated.

Many of the excess deaths are "due to pre-existing chronic pathologies identified as risky during high temperatures," the institute stated. Mortality from conditions related to high blood pressure increased by 36.9 percent. There were also more deaths from diabetes, up 31.2 percent, and dementia and early-onset dementia, which jumped by 19.8 percent.

Last year, Spain experienced its hottest year since records began in 2016, the meteorological agency AEMET announced. The report came out as Spain experienced its first summer heatwave, which pushed the mercury to 44.4 degrees Celsius (111.9 Fahrenheit) in the southwestern province of Huelva on Monday. So far, two people have died as a result of the heat, officials said.

Temperatures on Tuesday were slightly lower than on Monday but still above 40C (104F) in parts of the country. The intense heat is expected to last until Thursday.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world, and experts say Spain is likely to be one of the countries most affected by climate change.