Temperatures in Spain began to rise in the final week of June, with the first heatwave of the summer reaching as high as 44 °C (113 °F) on Monday. Heatwaves can have dramatic consequences, particularly for older people and those with health issues. A study published this March in the scientific journal The Lancet compared mortality rates among people aged 85 and over in 854 European cities during extreme temperature conditions between 2000 and 2019.

The study shows that out of 30 European capital cities analysed, Paris is the city with the highest risk of excess mortality among the elderly during heatwaves (with a relative risk of 1.603). Amsterdam (1.595) and Rome (1.572) are very close to the French capital, while Madrid (1.402) is also among the European capitals that are dangerous for the elderly during periods of extreme heat.