Tuesday, July 19, 2022
According to report of Spain’s Health Ministry, 510 people died of extreme heatwave sweeping across the country. The mercury level touched 45 degrees Celsius in several parts of the country.
Carlos III Health Institute (ISCII) which forms part of the Ministry, reported between July 10 and July about the fatalities occurred due to heatwave.
As heatwave escalated, death rate also quadrupled from 15 to 60 in the past four days between July 10 and July 13.
The number leaped to 93 last Thursday and 123 on Friday before reaching the climax of 150 on Saturday. The toll is feared to rise even further when new figures are published for Sunday.
Spain’s sweltering heat is especially affecting the elderly. As reported by the ISCIII, 321 out of 510 victims are of 85 years or above, 121 are between 75 and 84 years of age and 44 between 65 and 74 years of age.
However, deaths were also reported among the younger population, including two municipal workers in Madrid who died of heatstroke.
This prompted the city hall to adopt more flexible working hours, so that workers could avoid working outdoors during the hottest hours of the day.
Among the younger victims were also a fireman and a shepherd, who died in the wildfires that are engulfing Spain as well as some other areas in southern Europe.
This is Spain’s second heatwave of the summer. The previous one hit the country between June 11 to 17, causing 829 deaths, according to ISCIII.
