Guy Hedgecoe
Reporting from Madrid
Image source, ReutersPeople go boating in Madrid’s El Retiro Park on Tuesday
The north-eastern Spanish region of Aragón is seeing some of the highest temperatures of the heatwave and, in the cities of Zaragoza and Huesca, local authorities have responded by reducing the price of entry for public swimming pools.
The northern city of Logroño, which is expecting temperatures of up to 40C (104F) today, has made entrance to swimming pools free for the duration of the heatwave and authorities there have announced that ornamental water fountains will be turned on uninterruptedly between 11:00 and 23:00.
People can also cool off under water sprinklers, which have been switched on in several areas of the city.
Several cities and towns have suspended the traditional burning of a bonfire to celebrate the festival of San Juan (John the Baptist), because of the fire risk posed by extreme conditions.
The northern city of León has cancelled a fireworks display, which had been scheduled for tonight to mark the festivities.
Meanwhile, many cities have made available “heat refuges”, which are air-conditioned public buildings where anyone can go in and escape the worst of the weather.
A 2024 law seeks to protect Spanish workers during heatwaves, ensuring employers take safety measures, including making sure outdoor manual work is not done during the hottest time of the day.
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