Heatwaves in Spain caused 1,180 deaths in past two months, ministry says
The vast majority of people who died were over 65 and more than half were women, the data it cited showed.
The most affected regions were Galicia, La Rioja, Asturias and Cantabria - all located in the northern half of the country, where traditionally cooler summer temperatures have seen a significant rise in recent years.
Like other countries in Western Europe, Spain has been hit by extreme heat in recent weeks, with temperatures often topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
The 1,180 people who died of heat-related causes between May 16 and July 13 compared with 114 in the same period in 2024, the ministry said in a statement citing data from the Carlos III Health Institute. The number of deaths increased significantly in the first week in July.
The data shows an event "of exceptional intensity, characterized by an unprecedented increase in average temperatures and a significant increase in mortality attributable to heatwaves", the ministry said.
In the period the data covers, there were 76 red alerts for extreme heat, compared with none a year earlier.
Last summer, 2,191 deaths were attributed to heat-related causes in Spain, according to data from the Carlos III Health Institute.
The data from Spain follows a rapid scientific analysis published on July 9 that said around 2,300 people died of heat-related causes across 12 European cities during a severe heatwave in the 10 days to July 2.
It was not immediately clear whether the study conducted by scientists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was using the same methodology as the Spanish data.
(This story has been corrected, following revised ministry statement, to amend the number of deaths in same period last year to 114, not 70, in paragraph 5)
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Brit tourist, 18, dies 'after taking pills' in Ibiza on first lads holiday: Teen's family issue desperate warning
The family of an 18-year-old British tourist who died 'after taking pills' in Ibiza while on his first ever lads holiday have issued a desperate warning to other youngsters. Ryan Long, from Eastwood, Essex, tragically passed away last Tuesday after falling suddenly ill while on holiday with four friends. The 'outgoing' teenager had reported feeling unwell while in UNVRS nightclub, just a few hours after the group had first arrived at the popular party island on Wednesday, July 2. It is believed Ryan had taken an ecstasy tablet. His friends, who noted that Ryan 'didn't seem right' and had 'started acting funny' had initially helped him into a taxi, believing he would simply be able to 'sleep it off'. But tragically when the group returned to their accommodation, Ryan collapsed, went unconscious and 'started foaming at the mouth'. Given his dire condition, the teenager was quickly rushed to hospital in an air ambulance. His final word spoken was simply the name of his brother, Aaron. Ryan, who fell into a coma that evening, tragically died in intensive care just five days later. Now, his devastated parents, who were by their son's side when he passed, have pleaded for others to avoid taking illegal drugs when holidaying in locations such as Ibiza. Their close friend Ben Bradford, owner of local football club Ben Bradford Goalkeeping Academy (BBGK), of which Ryan was a 'long-standing member', has also set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to help support the devastated family. Speaking to MailOnline, Adrian Long, Ryan's grief-stricken father, described his beloved son as 'always full of life' and 'smiling'. He said that both him and his wife, Angela, had first heard of Ryan's illness in the early hours of the morning and immediately began looking for flights. But, to their dismay, there were none available until Thursday, July 4. The couple, who described the agonising wait for any news as 'unbearable', said that medical professionals initially gave their son just two hours to live. Ms Long, who tearfully said that she had 'drummed into' her son the importance of not taking drugs, believed that the 'extortionate expense' of food and drinks in Ibiza may have been what drove her son towards the narcotics. She added: 'I think what was in Ryan's head was the expense of the clubs, the drinks. It was 52 Euros for a single vodka and coke, it's just extortionate. 'He was doing an apprenticeship. He's not on brilliant money. And I don't know, I just think it was a cheaper option to get a fix, look somewhere else.' Ryan, who was eventually airlifted to hospital in Palma De Mallorca, was suffering from acute and 'deteriorating' liver failure, with his body eventually unable to cope with the catastrophic affects of the drug. Ms Long, who described the loss of her son as like a 'dream', advised other youngsters planning on visiting popular party holiday destinations like Ibiza that you are 'not invincible' and that it is 'not worth taking the risk'. Meanwhile, Ryan's devastated father, said that he hoped his son's experience would make other youngsters his age 'aware' of the possible implications of illegal drug use. He added that his son, who had never been abroad without his parents before, had not even unpacked his suitcase at the time he took the fatal drug. Mr Long said: 'Everyone thinks nothing is going to happen to them but unfortunately it does. He's not going to be the first and he won't be the last. 'The season is just starting so it's possible it could happen again tonight, tomorrow or the weekend. It could be someone else's child, and they'll end up going through the same thing. 'Ryan would be on his last year of his apprenticeship this year. He had everything to look forward to. 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Ms Long, who said that the group had 'done everything right' and 'couldn't have done more' described the loss of her son as 'so unfair', with the family planning to take everyday as it comes as they navigate their significant grief. Meanwhile, Cliff, another close friend of the family, warned against the so-called 'squeaky clean image' of Ibiza as a holiday destination for youngsters, stating that he believes 'things like this are happening all the time'. He added: 'We were told by the hospital that there had been five or six cases like this already.' Ryan was a county swimmer and had won numerous swimming events. A keen scuba diver, he was even the youngest boy to qualify for his open water dive certification at a scuba centre in Cyprus. Mr Bradford, who said that Ryan was a 'lovely lad' with a passion for DJing and a huge Southend United fan, described his decision to take drugs as 'totally out of character'. 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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Fiona Phillips' husband reveals devastating moment star, 64, 'didn't recognise their son' amid her battle with Alzheimer's in latest heartbreaking health update
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Martin said that Nat would have been 'devastated' to hear his mother being unable to recognise him, but thankfully he did not. It comes after Martin, 66, and Fiona detailed the worrying time they feared their sons could inherit Alzheimer's. When the couple first learned of her diagnosis, they were concerned if the disease was genetic and would strike their sons. After a genetic test, Fiona and Martin were relieved to discover their boys weren't in danger of inheriting the disease. In the Mail's exclusive extract from her upcoming memoir, Martin said: 'We did tackle one fear and talked to Fiona's consultant about whether she had inherited the illness from her parents. 'She then had a genetic test, because if she carried the gene for Alzheimer's there was a danger the boys would have it, too, which in turn might mean them thinking about IVF if they wanted children, in order to break the genetic line. 'Thankfully, the test was negative.' 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Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die. This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink. More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the 6th leading cause of death, and more than 1 million Britons have it. WHAT HAPPENS? As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost. That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason. The progress of the disease is slow and gradual. On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live for ten to 15 years. 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The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
I've been left with excess fluid in my ankle and foot after bad bout of cellulitis – help!
AS summer gets into full swing, there's no better time to focus on your health. Whether you're embracing the sunshine (and the vitamin D that comes with it), planning holidays (a boost to wellbeing), or exercising outdoors, I find this season filled with energy and opportunity. This column is YOUR space to ask questions, so I can help you live as healthy a life as possible. Whether it's understanding a new treatment, managing a long-term condition, or simply wondering about the best way to stay fit while living with a chronic condition. Perhaps you or a loved one has been worried about a symptom you've been experiencing, and you need some reassurance, have been feeling down and unsure what to do, or you're curious about how to make healthier choices. Or perhaps you are reconsidering the health goals you made at the start of the year, and whether you still have time to make changes. I answer three questions a week on a Tuesday, and one on Sunday. Email me at health@ Here's a selection of what readers have asked this week . . . Cellulitis legacy is causing concern 3 Q: I HAD a bad bout of cellulitis in my left leg four years ago. Since then I have had a few recurrences but have managed to get antibiotics quickly and before the cellulitis gets as bad. I have been left with a red mark on my lower left calf, almost like a bruise, which does get worse from time to time. I also have excess fluid in my left ankle and foot, which swells during the day. Can I do anything about either of these? I try to be as active as I can and elevate my feet. A: A severe case of cellulitis can cause persistent changes to the skin and tissue, even years later. These can be permanent, but there may be ways to improve things, which I will explain. Your swelling and red mark may be due to long-term damage or changes to the lymphatic and skin tissue caused by the infection and inflammation. Cellulitis can damage the lymphatic vessels, which are responsible for draining fluid from tissues. If these vessels are scarred or weakened the fluid may accumulate, causing chronic swelling, and the area can become more vulnerable to future infections. It may improve slightly over time, but if the lymphatic damage is significant, some degree of chronic swelling may remain. Compression therapy (e.g. compression stockings), leg elevation and physiotherapy can help manage it. The red mark could be post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is when skin is left darker or more red by the healing process or it could be scarring in the area where the infection was worst. In some people, this never fully fades, though it may lighten slowly. It is important to be vigilant about future infections. Signs to look out for are any increase in redness, pain or warmth. And also worsening swelling or hardening of the skin. 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As you rightly pointed out, delays in diagnosing AL amyloidosis, a variant of the disease where the bone marrow is affected, can significantly affect prognosis, especially if the heart is involved. NHS trusts should have mechanisms to expedite diagnosis, especially when organ damage is suspected, though it doesn't fall under a formal two-week cancer pathway. AL amyloidosis, or primary amyloidosis, is caused by abnormal light chain proteins produced by plasma cells in the bone marrow. These misfold into amyloid deposits, which can affect organs such as the kidneys, heart, nerves, liver and digestive system. If a diagnosis is made, treatment typically involves multidisciplinary care led by haematology specialists and other teams depending on organ involvement. Tests aiding diagnosis include blood and urine analysis, imaging like ECG, echocardiogram or MRI, biopsies to detect amyloid deposits, SAP scans to locate amyloid and genetic testing. In England, patients suspected of having amyloidosis should be referred to the National Amyloidosis Centre, located at the Royal Free Hospital, London. Referrals can be made by hospital consultants or your GP, with appointments often arranged within two weeks if cardiac involvement is suspected. This is the NAC website – – which you can share with your GP. Risk in recurring migraines 3 Q: I AM an 83 year old man and have recently started having occasional migraines which last for around 15 to 30 minutes. It's been about 40 years since I had one. I have little headache but vivid auras. Should I be concerned? A: New or unusual headaches in people over 50 are always taken seriously. While you've had migraines in the past, the recurrence after decades – particularly with changes in aura or frequency – should be treated as a 'new' headache and investigated as such. Migraine auras can mimic other conditions, but in older adults, it's vital to rule out more serious causes. Sudden visual disturbances such as zig-zags, flashing lights, or blind spots may be caused by migraine aura. But they could also indicate a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mini-stroke, particularly if they come on quickly and resolve within an hour. Other potential causes include retinal issues, certain types of seizures, vascular problems, or, in rare cases, brain tumours. These possibilities make it essential to seek medical advice promptly. I recommend booking an urgent GP appointment and keeping a detailed diary of your symptoms in the meantime. Record the description of the aura, its duration, any accompanying headache or other symptoms, and whether you feel unwell afterwards. Identifying patterns can be helpful for your doctor. While your symptoms may indeed be benign migraine auras, their recurrence after 40 years – and at your age of 83 – necessitates thorough evaluation to rule out more serious conditions. Early investigation is crucial, even if your symptoms turn out to be harmless.
