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Spain records over 5,000 heat-related deaths during record summer
Europe experienced record-breaking heat during the summer of 2026, with significant impacts across the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Spain. In the UK, the Met Office reported the warmest summer since records began in 1884, with an average mean temperature of 16.5°C.
Belgium also saw unprecedented temperatures, with the Royal Meteorological Institute reporting an average of 20.3°C, the first time the summer average exceeded 20°C. The country experienced three heatwaves, including one that lasted 64 consecutive days.
Spain suffered extreme mortality due to the heat. According to the MoMo mortality monitoring system from the Carlos III Health Institute, an estimated 5,232 deaths were attributed to high temperatures between May 15 and August 31, 2026. This figure surpasses previous records, including 4,789 deaths in 2022. In August 2026 alone, approximately 2,147 to 2,149 deaths were recorded. The majority of those affected were aged 65 and older, with a particularly high vulnerability noted in those over 85. Regional data indicates that Catalonia recorded the highest number of heat-related deaths in Spain.
Entities
AEMET · Canary Islands · Carlos III Health Institute · Catalonia · Daily Mortality Monitoring System · Met Office · Momo · Royal Meteorological Institute · Spain
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [DISPUTED] In 2023, the heat-related mortality figure was 3,035. www.eldia.es · gacetamexicana.com · www.telesurenglish.net · gazetashneta.net · www.atlantico.net · +2 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The MoMo system uses statistical models to estimate heat-related deaths rather than certifying individual causes. gacetamexicana.com · www.telesurenglish.net · gazetashneta.net · www.eldia.es · www.atlantico.net · +2 more
- [DISPUTED] The 2026 heat-related mortality figure surpasses the previous records set in 2022 and 2023. www.eldia.es · gacetamexicana.com · www.telesurenglish.net · gazetashneta.net · www.atlantico.net · +5 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The summer of 2003 remains the historical peak with approximately 13,000 deaths in Spain. www.eldia.es · gacetamexicana.com
- [● 12 SOURCES] August 2026 recorded 2,147 deaths attributed to heat. www.eldia.es · gacetamexicana.com · www.telesurenglish.net · gazetashneta.net · itapevinoticias.com.br · +7 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The MoMo system estimates 5,232 deaths in Spain due to high temperatures between May 15 and August 31, 2026. www.eldia.es · gacetamexicana.com · www.telesurenglish.net · gazetashneta.net · moitruong.net.vn · +1 more
- [DISPUTED] In 2022, the system recorded 4,789 heat-related deaths. www.eldia.es · gacetamexicana.com · www.telesurenglish.net · gazetashneta.net · www.atlantico.net · +2 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] July 2026 registered 2,025 deaths attributed to extreme temperatures. www.eldia.es · www.telesurenglish.net · gazetashneta.net · 1001infos.net · www.businessdaily.gr · +10 more