Spain Warns Tourists After Heatwave Leaves More Than 200 Dead

Spain has issued an unusual heat alert to tourists and residents after the first heatwave of the season was linked to about 212 deaths across the country. The warning comes even as the wave begins to ease slightly, according to a report in the British Mirror.

Diana Gomez, a scientist at Spain’s National Center for Epidemiology, said the figures are still preliminary. “These are preliminary data and we will need to wait a week for them to start stabilizing,” she said.

Spain’s health ministry urged people to be especially careful with alcohol in hot weather, saying, “Avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks because they can worsen dehydration during heatwaves.” The ministry said alcohol acts as a diuretic and can increase the risk of exhaustion or heatstroke when the body is already losing fluids through sweating.

Officials also advised people to drink more water even without feeling thirsty, wear light and breathable clothing, stay in cool and shaded places, and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours. The UK Foreign Office also warned that extreme weather can affect many parts of Spain, especially in summer, and told Britons to follow updates from Spain’s meteorological service.