Extreme heat linked to more than 1,300 deaths in Portugal in 20 consecutive days

By&nbspEuronews

Published connected 22/08/2025 - 16:32 GMT+2 •Updated 16:32

The months of July and August successful Portugal were marked by respective warnings of precocious temperatures that coincided pinch a important summation successful mortality.

According to information analysed by nan Público newspaper from nan Death Certificates Information System (SICO), location were 20 consecutive days of excess mortality betwixt 27 July and 15 August, resulting successful 1,331 deaths, a comparative summation of 25%.

According to nan Directorate-General for Health (DGS), excess deaths occurred successful each regions of nan country, but pinch a higher incidence complaint successful nan north, cardinal areas and nan confederate region of Alentejo.

The wellness authority said that precocious temperatures were nan main factor, fuelling dehydration and aggravating chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, successful nan astir susceptible people.

Data from nan Dr Ricardo Jorge National Health Institute shows that this excess mortality was observed mostly among older people.

Of nan 34 days of excess mortality recorded successful July and August, 29 corresponded to higher than expected deaths successful nan complete 70 property group.

The DGS says that nan property group of 75 and over, pinch nan highest load of illness and nan lowest physiological consequence capacity to heat, were nan hardest hit.

The period of July was peculiarly critical, pinch 2 basking spells (1 to 9 and 25 to 31 July).

The Portuguese Institute for nan Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) confirmed that it was nan 9th hottest July since 1931, "with aerial somesthesia values much than 3°C supra nan monthly mean connected nan 3rd, 4th, 30th and 31st."

Despite nan excess mortality, nan accumulated information up to 18 August shows that nan full number of deaths (77,292) is successful statement pinch nan aforesaid play successful 2024 (76,849).

However, this twelvemonth it was July that stood retired for its precocious figures, whereas successful nan erstwhile twelvemonth nan highest successful mortality had occurred successful January, coinciding pinch nan extremity of nan flu pandemic period.