Spain: heat wave kills more than 350 in one week

A man takes shelter from the sun while begging in the street during the heatwave in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, July 16, 2022. AP - Paul White

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Since July 10, the heat wave has killed some 360 ​​people in Spain, according to the Carlos III Health Institute.

Nearly 46% of the territory is affected by temperatures exceeding 40 degrees, forcing the Spaniards to change their habits as much as possible. 

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With our correspondent in Madrid,

With 45 degrees in Extremadura and 42 degrees in Madrid, Spain has not been breathing for a week.

In Madrid, a street cleaner died of heatstroke.

He was found lying on a sidewalk with a body temperature reaching 41.5 degrees.

Since July 10, when the heat wave began, the victims of the heat follow one another.

According to a study by the Carlos III Health Institute, which issued a warning message to the population, nearly 360 people have already died because of the heat.

Spain's main unions have called for working hours to be changed as long as the thermometer remains high.

For example, avoid working outside during the hottest hours of the day, between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

This particularly long and intense heat wave should lose some of its strength next week.

At least that's what the fire departments are hoping for as they fight across the country to put out raging fires fueled by extreme temperatures. 

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