22 Die from Extreme Summer Heat in the Canary Islands
August’s extreme heat has resulted in 2,177 deaths across Spain this month, a 71.3 % increase compared with the same period last year, according to the Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo) of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII). The Canary archipelago alone accounts for a total of 22 fatalities.
Heat‑related deaths in August
- Total deaths: 2,177 in Spain for August 2025.
- Increase vs. 2024: 71.3 % higher than the same month a year earlier.
- Canary Islands: 22 deaths attributed to heat.
The MoMo data also show that August’s heat‑related deaths exceeded those in July by 1,117 (July recorded 1,060 deaths). Since early June 2025, Spain has reported 3,644 heat‑related deaths, an 84.3 % rise over the three summer months of 2024.
Weekly breakdown
- Second week of August (Mon 11 – Sun 25): 934 deaths.
- Third week of August: 862 deaths.
These two weeks registered the highest numbers of heat‑related fatalities for the season.
Gender and age distribution
- Male deaths: 877.
- Female deaths: 1,300.
- Age: The majority were over 65 years old (2,099 deaths), of which 1,428 were aged 85 or older.
Regional impact
| Autonomous community | Heat‑related deaths |
|---|---|
| Madrid | 415 |
| Catalonia | 361 |
| Castile and León | 264 |
| Valencian Community | 204 |
| Galicia | 198 |
| Andalusia | 169 |
| Castile‑La Mancha | 163 |
| Extremadura | 115 |
| Aragon | 74 |
| Basque Country | 74 |
| Navarre | 47 |
| Canary Islands | 22 |
| Asturias | 20 |
| La Rioja | 19 |
| Murcia | 16 |
| Cantabria | 13 |
| Balearic Islands | 4 |
| Ceuta (autonomous city) | 1 |
“The surge in heat‑related mortality underscores the urgent need for protective measures, especially for the most vulnerable elderly population.”