Spain faces severe heat wave, rail disruptions and corruption verdicts

A heat wave swept Spain on 24 June 2026, with red alerts in Andalusia, Cantabria and the Basque Country and temperatures approaching 45 °C in some regions. The extreme temperatures caused two deaths and prompted widespread power‑consumption concerns.

High‑speed rail services were crippled after a high‑voltage cable collapsed between Sevilla and Córdoba, halting AVE trains and leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Additional outages were reported in Valladolid and on Madrid’s commuter lines.

Spain’s Supreme Court issued lengthy prison sentences in the “Mascarillas” corruption case, handing former minister José Luis Ábalos a 24‑year term, Koldo García 19 years, and granting a reduced sentence to Víctor de Aldama for his cooperation. The verdict triggered renewed calls for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to step down, as opposition parties condemned the decision.