A devastating summer has left its mark on Spain and France, where a relentless pursuit of heat has claimed over 2,000 lives in June alone. As temperatures are set to soar once more, both countries are bracing for another potentially catastrophic heatwave, with parts of southern Spain predicted to hit sweltering highs of up to 44C by Tuesday.
Spain's state meteorological agency, Aemet, has issued a fresh alert, warning that a mass of dry, hot air is expected to bring persistently high temperatures to much of the country from Saturday. Rubén del Campo, an Aemet spokesperson, indicated that while temperatures will begin to rise over the weekend, a full heatwave cannot be ruled out. The agency has also cautioned about an increased risk of forest fires next week, advising older individuals and those with cardiovascular conditions to take particular care during daytime heat.
Provisional data from Spain's health ministry's daily mortality monitoring system, MoMo, attributed 1,029 excess deaths in June to high temperatures. Similarly, France's public health agency reported approximately 1,000 additional deaths during a 10-day late June heatwave, which experts described as the most extreme the country has experienced. While a final figure is pending, Nicolas Revel, head of Paris area hospitals, anticipates this year's heat-related deaths to exceed the 5,700 recorded last year, though not reaching the 15,000 seen in France's severe 2003 heatwave, thanks to improved preparedness.
The impact of the previous heatwave was profound. France's medical emergency service, SOS-Médecins, noted an 85% increase in deaths among those over 75 during the last two weeks of June. Call-outs for this age group, primarily for high temperatures and anxiety, rose by 14%, with hospitalisations increasing by 19%. Across all age groups, calls for heatstroke and dehydration surged by 480% and 315% respectively. Additionally, the sports and youth minister, Marina Ferrari, reported over 90 drowning deaths since 19 June, correlating with people seeking relief from the heat in water.
The extreme conditions have also exacerbated environmental challenges. Southern France is currently battling several wildfires, fanned by strong winds, which have scorched approximately 1,210 hectares (2,990 acres). The return of high temperatures to the Paris region has also sparked unusual scenes, with reports of scuffles and shouting matches breaking out in Lidl supermarkets as residents vied for limited and affordable air-conditioning units, with police being called to multiple stores.
Scientists have unequivocally linked the severity and widespread nature of recent Western European heatwaves to the climate crisis, driven by the burning of fossil fuels. Last month was Spain's second-warmest June on record, with an average temperature 3.2C above the norm, further highlighting the pressing need for nations to mitigate the effects of rising global temperatures.