Heat-related deaths rise significantly in Galicia and Basque Country

Data from the MoMo mortality monitoring system indicates a significant rise in heat-related deaths across parts of Spain. In Galicia, September has recorded a decade-high number of deaths attributed to high temperatures. As of September 23, an estimated 63 deaths have been linked to heat, surpassing the previous record of 60 set in September 2023. This trend differs from the previous year, where heat-related mortality was concentrated in August and dropped sharply in September.

In the Basque Country, health officials reported a sharp increase in daily deaths attributed to excessive temperatures. The average rose from 1.01 daily deaths in 2025 to 3.78 in 2026. Between mid-May and late August 2026, 409 deaths in the region were attributed to heat. Statistics show that women and individuals over the age of 85 are disproportionately affected, with 61% of these deaths occurring in the elderly population.

Meteorological agencies, including AEMET, have noted the persistence of summer-like conditions into later months, describing a “four-month summer” due to prolonged heatwaves and abnormally high temperatures extending through September.