The intense heatwave that has affected Catalonia, with temperatures reaching nearly 35 degrees Celsius in Barcelona, has had severe health consequences. The daily mortality monitoring system of the Carlos III Health Institute provisionally attributes 39 deaths to the extreme climatic conditions recorded between June 19 and 24 in the Catalan capital and its province.
The peak of heat-related mortality occurred on Wednesday, June 24, Sant Joan's Day, with 13 deaths. The previous Tuesday, coinciding with the festivities, 11 fatalities were recorded. These figures are added to six deaths on Monday and three daily over the weekend. Across Catalonia, the institute links a total of 49 deaths to the recent meteorological inclemency.
Medical studies confirm the link between prolonged periods of intense heat and an increase in mortality. The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB) estimates that between May and September 2025, approximately 370 premature deaths occurred in the city due to high temperatures, a significant increase compared to the 236 deaths estimated in 2024. Between 2016 and 2025, it is estimated that around 3,538 people died in the capital due to the aggravation of their health caused by the heat, with individuals over 75 years old and women being the most vulnerable groups.
In addition to fatalities, the Civil Protection alert has mobilized health teams. The Emergency Medical Service (SEM) has attended to 52 people for heat-related disorders in the Barcelona health region over the past week. Of these attendances, 27 required an ambulance, while the remaining 25 were resolved through the Salut Respon service (061).
Across Catalonia, the SEM has examined 264 individuals for conditions associated with high temperatures. In 137 cases, a medicalized vehicle was needed, and in 127, the consultation was resolved by phone.
