MADRID, Oct 6 (AFP) - The summer heat claimed 26 lives in Spain this year, compared with the official death 2003 toll of 141, a health ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
Half of this year's fatalities came in the Canary Islands with a further five in the southern region of Andalucia, with the remainder spread over five other mainly southern regions, according to a government monitoring cell in place from June 1 to October 1.
This summer, temperatures were markedly lower than last year's while additional preventative measures were introduced, including a free advice hotline.
Last year's toll was the subject of much argument, however, with the Carlos III Institute noting in a study published last May that June to August 2003 saw 6,500 more deaths nationwide than normal for the period.
The Socialist governement which took office in April announced in May a 2.67 million euro (3.1 million dollar) plan to tackle heatwaves via a three-tier early warning system based on weather forecasts.