British tourists heading to the Canary Islands should be mindful of the ongoing heatwave, as six people in July alone died there of causes linked to the hot temperatures.
The six deaths were attributed to heatstroke, heat exhaustion and dehydration, data from Spain’s ISCIII’s Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo) showed.
While the Canary Islands enjoy warm temperatures all year round, in July the archipelago suffered particularly hot weather, with the Ministry of Health on the archipelago issuing a warning affecting major tourist areas in Gran Canaria and southern Tenerife due to temperatures in the mid-30sC.
The proximity to Africa of the Canary Islands made them particularly exposed to the hot stream of air coming from the continent.
Spain has experienced blistering heat in recent weeks, with parts of its southern regions reaching temperatures well into the 40sC.
Countrywide, the heatwave has caused the death of 771 in July, according to the MoMo – with 586 people dying within the last 10 days of the month alone, as the heat was at its most intense.
The elderly population was the most affected by the blistering temperatures, with 751 of the total deaths happening among the over-65s.
The organisation registered a total of 32,582 deaths in Spain last month, with an excess of 824 deaths from all causes – with 771 attributed to the heat.
British tourists heading to particularly hot holiday destinations are urged to remain hydrated, stay out of the sun during the central hours of the day and be mindful of local weather warnings.
Children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with health conditions that may be exacerbated by the heat – such as diabetes and hypertension – are urged to take particular care during a heatwave.
