Puerto Vallarta, Mexico — The relentless extreme heat in Mexico has proven deadly, with 43 fatalities recorded in the month of May alone, according to the federal Ministry of Health. The majority of these deaths were caused by heat stroke, while a smaller number resulted from dehydration. Veracruz has been the hardest hit, reporting 14 deaths, followed by San Luis Potosí with eight, Tabasco with six, Tamaulipas with five, and Nuevo León with three. Other states, including Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Campeche, and Guanajuato, have also reported heat-related deaths. Of the 43 deceased, 35 were men and eight were women.
This alarming death toll coincides with two significant heat waves this month, the second of which has not yet subsided. Forecasts predict temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius across much of the country in the coming days.
The country's heat crisis began with the first heat wave in mid-April, followed by the second from May 3 to 13, and the third commencing on May 20. The National Weather Service has predicted at least two more heat waves through July. The heat map of Mexico shows that temperatures will surpass 45 degrees Celsius in nine states: Sinaloa, Guerrero, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatán. Only Tlaxcala and Mexico City are expected to remain below 35 degrees Celsius.
The extreme heat has led to significant health and infrastructure challenges. The Ministry of Health has recorded 619 cases of heat stroke and dehydration in May. On a single day, May 9, 13 deaths were reported, primarily in Veracruz, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas. That same day, Mexico City broke its historical temperature record, reaching 34.3 degrees Celsius. Additionally, electrical blackouts occurred in 15 states as the National Energy Control Center (Cenace) declared a state of emergency due to high temperatures and energy insufficiency.
The rising mortality rates linked to extreme heat are not unique to Mexico. The Copernicus Climate Change Service of the European Commission and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have found that in Europe, deaths associated with high temperatures have increased by 30% over the last 20 years. The year 2023 was the warmest on record in millennia, with Mexico reporting 112 heat-related deaths during the hot season. Climate change experts warn that the situation worsens each year.
Scientists from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) have issued a stark warning that Mexico will experience the highest temperatures recorded in history within the next 10 to 15 days. Jorge Zavala Hidalgo, Francisco Estrada Porrúa, and Víctor Manuel Torres Puente highlighted the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, exacerbated by climate change, leading to unprecedented temperature increases. This situation suggests that 2024 may become the warmest year on record.
