It was a summer that took the breath away from even the most heat-tested Mallorcans. The island, normally known for its mild sea breezes and shady pine groves, was hit by a heatwave in August 2024 that claimed the lives of 19 people. This silent tragedy took place in the shadow of the blazing sun, in a paradise that became a nightmare that summer.
An island under pressure
While tourists stormed the beaches to get away from it all, the locals struggled with the extreme temperatures, which did not really cool down even at night. The streets of Palma seemed deserted in the midday heat, and even the shady squares in the villages could no longer offer any real protection.
The sad statistics
In total, the national monitoring system of daily mortality (MoMo) reported 1,386 heat-related deaths across Spain in August - an increase of 615 compared to the previous month and 3 percent more than in August last year. In the Balearic Islands, the number of victims remained relatively low at 19, but every single death leaves a gap in the islands' small communities.
Mallorca, Catalonia and Madrid in comparison
In regions such as Catalonia and Madrid, the figures were much higher, but this does not change the fact that people also fell victim to the heat on Mallorca. The stories behind the numbers are often tragic, such as the case of the German hiker who collapsed and died near Colònia de Sant Pere. For many older residents of the island, summer became a dangerous time that came at a high price.
A memorial in the heat
The Spanish Ministry of Health is once again issuing an urgent warning about the dangers of the heat, especially for older residents and vulnerable groups in society. But the heat is not just a physical threat - it is changing life on the island, forcing people to adapt their routines and rethink their way of life.
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