Over 1,000 people died in Spain's heatwave; temperature soars to 40 deg C

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• Jul 22, 2022 | Dhupali Das

According to the Carlos III Health Institute, the temperature was far above 40 degrees Celsius, and 829 individuals died due to heat-related causes...

Digital Desk: The Spanish Ministry of Health reported on Thursday that 1,047 people died in this year's second heatwave, as temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in various regions of the nation over the past ten days.

According to data collected by the Monitorization of Daily Mortality (MoMo), these heat-related deaths were reported from July 10 to July 19.

The elderly were mainly affected by the high temperature. 672 of the casualties were 85 or over, 241 were in the 75–84 age range, and 88 were in the 65–74 age range.

Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) spokesperson Bea Hervella stated that mortality was higher among those with respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

Hervella believes the problem is primarily due to the body's temperature regulation mechanism, which is not completely developed in young individuals but frequently overreacts in the elderly.

"The consequences of heat and dehydration can impact your hours after being exposed to the heat," said Paul Molina, chief of emergency services at Torrejon Hospital in Madrid.

The first heatwave of this summer in Spain began on June 11 and lasted for a week. According to the Carlos III Health Institute, the temperature was far above 40 degrees Celsius, and 829 individuals died due to heat-related causes.