Spain has recorded an alarming rise in the death toll linked to the severe heat wave that has been hitting the country for days, with authorities announcing that the death toll has reached 212 between Sunday and Wednesday alone.

Spain is experiencing one of the most severe heat waves this summer, amid repeated warnings from the National Weather Service (AEMET) that the situation is "extremely dangerous and may reach an exceptional level", with the hot air mass expected to continue to have an impact on large areas of the country.

Unprecedented temperatures

Authorities have issued red warnings in several areas, particularly in northern Spain, where temperatures are expected to reach around 42 degrees Celsius, levels that are significantly higher than normal.

The data also showed that some northern regions suffer from a significant weakness in indoor refrigeration equipment, as the availability of air conditioners does not exceed 9% in some regions, which increases the health impact on the population, especially the elderly and patients with chronic diseases.

Various regions have set new records, including the highest temperature in the history of the northern region of Cantabria at 43.7 degrees Celsius, as well as unusually high night temperatures, which increase pressure on the human body and limit the chances of natural recovery.

Increased health stress and deaths

Medical sources reported that a large part of the deaths are due to cases of heat stress and heat stroke, as these cases increase with continued direct exposure to high temperatures, especially among the healthiest groups.

The Spanish Ministry of Health points out that heat waves during the summer usually cause thousands of deaths annually, as a result of health complications that include failure of body functions or the worsening of chronic diseases, which reflects the seriousness of the phenomenon repeatedly every year.

Spanish Health Minister Mónica García called on citizens to take strict preventive measures, most notably drinking plenty of water, avoiding direct exposure to sunlight, and staying in cool or shaded places as much as possible.

She also warned of serious symptoms that may indicate heat stroke, such as severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, and cramps, stressing that quick intervention in such cases may save lives.

Influence spills over to other European countries

The effects of the heat wave have spread to several European countries, with France also seeing an unprecedented rise in temperatures, which has been described as one of the highest since climate data began to be recorded.

An increase in drowning incidents was also observed in some coastal areas as residents resorted to water bodies to mitigate the heat, amid warnings of the danger of indiscriminate swimming during peak heat periods.

European climate reports indicate that the European continent is one of the fastest-warming regions in the world, reinforcing fears of a recurrence of more severe heat waves in the coming years, as the effects of climate change continue to rise globally.