The territory of Gipuzkoa has reached 43 degrees Celsius due to extreme temperatures, and the Euskalmet agency has declared a red alert for today. In response to this situation, the Basque Government has activated the LABI (Basque Civil Protection Plan) to study possible measures. Yesterday, the high temperatures also affected everyone, with the interior of the territory being particularly hot during the central hours of the day.
Zizurkil recorded the highest temperature, reaching 43.4 degrees Celsius. Other municipalities such as Lasarte (41.1 degrees), Oiartzun (40.6), and Alegia (40.5) also registered highs above 40 degrees. On the coast, the capital, Donostia, reached 39 degrees, and Zarautz, 39.3 degrees.
Although summer officially began yesterday, heat has been the undisputed protagonist. Several residents commented on the unbearable heat and the need to stay cool. Nighttime temperatures were also high; in Zegama, the minimum was 26.1 degrees Celsius, and in Donostia, 19.3 degrees.
The Aemet agency had already activated a red alert for the interior of Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia yesterday. Euskadi was the only autonomous community in the state with this warning. Euskalmet, which maintained a yellow alert yesterday, has now upgraded the warning to red for today. Additionally, there is a yellow alert for the risk of forest fires.
From 12:00 PM today, the LABI emergency phase (situation 0) will be activated. The Department of Security of the Basque Government has announced that extreme temperatures will be monitored, evaluated, and forecast by a technical committee at the Sos Deiak emergency coordination center.
While awaiting conclusions and measures to be adopted in Euskadi, Osakidetza treated 25 people across the Basque Country yesterday due to high temperatures. Four of them were in Gipuzkoa, aged between 16 and 94 years.
Temperatures are expected to remain high, at least until next Thursday. Today's maximums could be one or two degrees higher than yesterday's, and Zizurkil could break its historical record. According to Euskalmet, heat will continue to be the main protagonist, with maximums between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius expected in much of the territory.
The Basque Government has issued a series of recommendations, including closing blinds and windows exposed to the sun, drinking plenty of water, avoiding going out during the hottest hours, wearing loose clothing, and exercising outdoors during cooler times. They also emphasize taking special care of vulnerable individuals such as babies, the elderly, and pregnant women, and calling 112 in case of emergency.
