During this heat wave, temperatures exceeded 45 degrees and caused many fires in the country.
The heatwave that hit Spain was the most intense on record in the country, according to preliminary data released on Wednesday, July 20 by the national weather agency (Aemet).
That heat wave, which lasted from July 9 to 18, was the one with the “strongest temperature anomaly” recorded in the country since data collection began in 1975, according to Aemet spokeswoman Beatriz Hervella.
huge fires
Somewhat synonymous with the intensity of the heat wave, the anomaly is the difference between the average temperature marking the start of the wave in the country and the maximum recorded during the episode. It rose to 4.2 degrees, the highest in history. “We are also talking about at least the third (heat wave) duration” after 2015 (26 days) and 2003 (16 days), but its duration could eventually “extend”, added Beatriz Hervella.
SEE ALSO – Heat wave: Spain victims of series of fires
Also readSpain: A second person dies of heatstroke while at work
In fact, if officially the heatwave ended on Monday in Spain, during which temperatures exceeded 45 degrees, the thermometer has fallen relatively little since then and Aemet could therefore estimate a posteriori that it will continue. These exceptionally high temperatures have fueled huge fires across the country since last week, one of which resulted in the deaths of a firefighter and a herdsman near Zamora (northwest).
The latest outbreak, which worried the authorities, reported on Monday in Aragon (northeast). It has already devastated thousands of hectares and resulted in the evacuation of 1,700 people. The rail line between Madrid and Barcelona had to be suspended before it could be reopened to traffic because of the flames, but roads remained closed on Wednesday.
“More than 500 people” died
The heatwave that ravaged Spain for nearly ten days has “killed more than 500 people,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday during a trip to Aragon, the country’s northern region that was hit by a fire.
Also readSpain tackles fires aided by lower temperatures
“During this heat wave, according to data, more than 500 people died from such high temperatures,” he said, referring to an excess mortality estimate released by a public health institute.
SEE ALSO – In Spain, this train was surrounded by flames