Barcelona heatwave declared public health emergency

Barcelona recorded a historic temperature of 40.9 °C on 10 July 2026, the highest in more than a century, as part of a series of extreme heatwaves that have swept Catalonia, the rest of Spain, and much of continental Europe since May. The European Copernicus program and the European Centre for Medium‑Range Weather Forecasts warn that such high‑temperature events are becoming more frequent and intense, raising serious health risks.

Health authorities note that the heat surge has already contributed to premature deaths. Spain’s Ministry of Health estimates 27,564 heat‑related deaths in the country between 2015 and 2025, while the World Health Organization projects about 63,000 deaths across Europe in 2024. Vulnerable groups – the elderly, chronically ill, socially isolated, low‑income households, and outdoor workers – are most at risk.

Experts call for treating extreme heat as a structural public‑health emergency, with preventive measures comparable to those for hurricanes or floods. Recommendations include creating climate shelters, proactive outreach to vulnerable residents, free transport to cooling centres, and upgrading homes, schools and hospitals with effective cooling and insulation. A coordinated response involving health services, social agencies, municipalities and civil protection is urged to mitigate the growing climate‑driven threat.