Spain heatwave kills 150 as El Niño intensifies global climate risks

More than 150 people died in Spain during an extreme heatwave in July 2026, as temperatures far exceeded seasonal averages. The Spanish health ministry’s daily mortality monitoring system recorded 1,029 heat‑related deaths in June, the highest since the system began in 2015. The heat also drove massive forest fires, burning around 56,000 hectares nationwide, including a major blaze that consumed roughly 2,200 hectares in La Bisbal d’Emporda.

At the same time, the World Meteorological Organization warned that El Niño is strengthening rapidly and is expected to persist through July‑September 2026. The agency highlighted heightened risks of heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall and landslides worldwide, noting emerging impacts in the United States, India, Australia and Peru, where authorities have declared emergencies for millions of residents. The WMO urged nations to improve early‑warning systems and preparedness to mitigate health, agricultural and environmental effects.