In mid-summer and the first half of August, temperatures in Spain rose to record highs.
According to the Carlos III Health Institute, between the beginning of June and the end of August the abnormal heat caused the death of 4,655 people. Thus, 2,223 people died in July and 1,602 in August.
In July and August, thermometers throughout the country recorded consistently high temperatures of 38-40°C.
Experts of the medical institute stated that the number of people who died from the hot weather is about 3.2% of the total number of deaths in Spain. According to medical experts, this value is three times the average mortality rate in five years.