Spain remains firmly in the grip of a ferocious heatwave this week, with temperatures climbing above 42 °C in multiple regions and emergency services stretched across the country. The national meteorological agency, AEMET, has extended red and orange weather warnings for much of the south, centre and east of the country, including Madrid, Seville, Córdoba, Toledo, and Catalonia.
Health authorities have issued renewed warnings for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, young children, and those with pre-existing conditions. The public is urged to stay indoors during peak heat hours (12:00–17:00), to hydrate regularly, and to avoid unnecessary travel.
This is the second major heatwave in as many weeks, and hospitals in several provinces are reporting a sharp rise in cases of heatstroke and dehydration. In Seville, local emergency units treated dozens of residents and tourists suffering from dizziness and collapse due to prolonged exposure. In Catalonia, health officials have confirmed one fatality, a man in his fifties, believed to have died while working outdoors in extreme temperatures.
Meanwhile, forest fire risks remain critical. In high-risk zones such as Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha and inland Andalusia, rural patrols have been stepped up, and helicopters are on standby should wildfires ignite. Recent blazes in Catalonia, which claimed two lives and devastated over 6,000 hectares, serve as a grim warning of how quickly conditions can deteriorate.
The intense heat is also affecting transport. Madrid’s Metro and regional rail services have been forced to implement speed restrictions on exposed lines due to track expansion risks. On some long-distance AVE routes, engineers are monitoring infrastructure hourly to prevent rail deformation. Authorities in Valencia have begun spraying pavements and street furniture to reduce surface temperatures in urban heat islands.
The situation has reignited political debate over Spain’s climate preparedness. Critics argue that urban planning, water storage, and public cooling infrastructure have not kept pace with escalating climate extremes. Minister for Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera has called for “urgent, coordinated, cross-party action” to prevent Spain from becoming, in her words, “the overheating corner of Europe.”
Meteorologists forecast that the extreme conditions will persist at least until Sunday, with only minimal overnight cooling in major cities. Spain’s capital is predicted to remain above 30 °C well into the night, fuelling health risks and putting pressure on the energy grid due to high air-conditioning demand.
The government has activated its national Heatwave Response Plan, and municipalities are distributing bottled water, operating cooling shelters, and mobilising social services to check on isolated residents.
As the summer continues, scientists warn that such heatwaves are not just unusual spikes—but are fast becoming the new norm under the influence of climate change.
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