# Heat wave mitigation in Spain and Morocco

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/heat-wave-mitigation-in-spain-and-morocco
> Updated: 2026-07-30T22:51:28.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2.

The heat wave that struck Pamplona on 29 July prompted residents to seek shade, drink water and cool off with ice‑cream, while Moroccan cities Marrakech and Agadir began replacing black asphalt with porous, permeable pavement to lower surface temperatures, reduce flood risk and recharge urban aquifers.

The following day coverage highlighted the Moroccan “foam sidewalk” – a network of voids that lets rainwater infiltrate, evaporate and draw heat away from roads, while also improving tire grip, reducing traffic noise and enhancing durability.

By late July, Spanish authorities expanded coping measures: Madrid opened a network of climate refuges – underground halls, botanical greenhouses and cultural centres – offering cool indoor spaces, drinking water and shaded seating. In Ourense, street‑level temperatures stayed well below city‑wide peaks, and Pamplona’s Avenida de Aróstegui remained closed through early August as deteriorating pavement struggled under heavy traffic and groundwater infiltration.

Moroccan cities continued installing the porous surfacing, reinforcing the earlier pilot and underscoring a dual strategy of immediate personal relief in Spain and longer‑term, low‑energy urban design in Morocco to protect health and build resilience.

## Claims

- Pamplona experienced high temperatures on 29 July. (single source)
- Residents in Pamplona sought shade, water sources and swimming to escape the heat. (single source)
- Ice‑cream sales increased in Pamplona during the heat wave. (single source)
- Marrakech and Agadir have removed black asphalt from some streets. (single source)
- The cities installed porous, permeable pavement to lower surface temperatures. (single source)
- Porous pavement helps reduce flood risk by allowing rainwater to infiltrate the ground. (single source)
- The new pavement contributes to recharging urban aquifers. (single source)
- El Salvador will experience temperatures up to 40 °C with brief showers in the western region. (single source)
- Quito’s forecast for 31 July calls for a maximum temperature of 21 °C, a UV radiation warning and a 25 % chance of rain. (single source)
- Madrid operates a network of climate refuges that maintain comfortable temperatures, provide water and shade for the public. (single source)
- Ourense recorded a temperature of 24.6 °C at Parque San Lázaro, with other streets ranging between 23 °C and 28 °C. (single source)
- Avenida de Aróstegui in Pamplona is closed until 4 August due to pavement deterioration caused by traffic volume and groundwater infiltration. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-07-30: Morocco pilots heat‑reducing porous pavement in Marrakech and Agadir

Morocco tests porous pavement in Marrakech and Agadir that absorbs rain, evaporates to cool roads, reduces urban heat, improves grip, cuts noise, and lessens flood risk.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/morocco-pilots-heatreducing-porous-pavement-in-marrakech-and-agadir

### 2026-07-29: Marrakech adopts porous pavement while Spanish cities open cooling refuges amid soaring heat

Heat wave spikes temperatures to 40 °C in El Salvador and 21 °C in Quito; Madrid opens cooling refuges, Ourense notes cooler streets, Pamplona road work stalls, and Marrakech replaces black asphalt with porous,

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pamplona-and-moroccan-cities-combat-soaring-summer-heat

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Cite as: Heat wave mitigation in Spain and Morocco. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/heat-wave-mitigation-in-spain-and-morocco