INA–Follow up
The first heatwave to hit Spain this summer has claimed the lives of more than 200 people in just four days, with unprecedented temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius.
Official data from the Carlos III University mortality monitoring system, reviewed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), shows that "the number of deaths directly linked to the heatwave reached 212, recorded between last Sunday and Wednesday, due to the severe weather conditions sweeping the country."
"Wednesday saw the highest and most severe toll with 95 deaths, representing about half of the total deaths recorded during the heatwave. The remaining deaths were distributed as follows: 66 on Tuesday, 38 on Monday, and 13 on Sunday," according to the university.
For its part, the Spanish Meteorological Agency confirmed that last Tuesday and Wednesday were the hottest days in the country's history for this time of year, since official climate records began in 1950.
This heatwave comes at a time when warnings from the scientific community and international organizations are escalating regarding the consequences of accelerating climate change, which has led to unprecedented temperature spikes across large parts of Europe.