At least 1,028 people died from heat-related causes during Spain's recent heat wave, as the country experienced its hottest January-to-June period since records began, according to official figures released on Wednesday.

A report by Spain's Carlos III Health Institute revealed that the death toll during last month's heat wave more than doubled the 407 heat-related deaths recorded in June 2025. It also marked the highest number of heat-related fatalities for the month of June since 2015.

The institute said the most severe day of the heat wave was June 23, when approximately 35.7 million people—around 73 percent of Spain's population—were exposed to significant health risks caused by extreme temperatures.

Meanwhile, Spain's national weather agency, Aemet, reported that June 2026 was the country's second-hottest June on record, with average temperatures 3.2 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norm.

Aemet also confirmed that the first half of 2026 has become the warmest January-to-June period ever recorded in Spain, with average temperatures standing 1.6 degrees Celsius above normal.

Scientists have linked the extreme heat affecting Spain and much of Europe to human-induced climate change, warning that rising global temperatures are increasing the frequency, intensity, and duration of deadly heat waves across the continent.