As many parts of Mexico continued to swelter, the federal Health Ministry reported a sobering statistic this week: 61 people have died of heat-related illnesses so far this year, including more than 50 deaths in May.
In a report published on Wednesday, the Health Ministry said there were an additional 13 heat-related deaths between May 22 and May 28.
The total number of heat-related deaths in May thus rose to 56. The other five occurred in April.
Most of the 61 deaths were caused by heat stroke, according to the Health Ministry, while a few were attributed to dehydration.
Mexico is currently going through its third heat wave of the year, while the second also occurred in May.
On Friday, the National Meteorological Service (SMN) forecast temperatures over 45 C for parts of Campeche, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacán, Morelos, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, San Luis PotosÃ, Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Zacatecas.
Heat-related deaths up over 1,000% compared to the same time last year
By late May last year, the Health Ministry had only registered five heat-related deaths across Mexico, meaning that this year’s death toll is currently up 1,120% in annual terms.
However, 2023 was by no means a mild year. There were three heat waves in Mexico last year, according to the SMN, the longest and deadliest of which occurred last June.
Mexico’s heat-related death toll soared to 421 by the end of the official “hot” season in October 2023. That figure was 10 times the number of heat-related deaths in 2022.
Which states have recorded the most heat fatalities this year?
The Health Ministry said that Veracruz has recorded the highest number of fatalities this year with 16.
Tabasco ranks second with 11, followed by San Luis Potosà (9), Tamaulipas (9), Oaxaca (4), Nuevo León (4) and Hidalgo (4).
Chiapas, Campeche, Guanajuato and Sonora have recorded one heat-related death each.
The Health Ministry also reported 1,346 recorded cases of heat-related illnesses so far this year. Just over 65% of those cases — 881 — were heat stroke, 32% of the total were dehydration and 2.5% were sunburn.
The case-fatality rate for heat-related illnesses in Mexico so far this year is 4.52%, the Health Ministry said.
With reports from El EconomistaÂ
Never known such heat in the many years of living in Mexico. Climate change affects us all.
Never experienced such heat in the many years if living in Mexico. Limited change affects us all.
It’s very sad and certainly a major concern now that temperatures are rising all of the world. Looks like the coastal regions are not included in this article though it can become pretty hot there as well. In Cancun, the hotels were always properly airconditioned and most people could afford at least a “minisplit” airconditioners or two, at least one in each bedroom. But then, I knew plenty of Mexicans who lived with a regular ceiling fan and most taxis had no air conditioners at all.
In my three bedroom condominium on two levels, I had a minisplit in each room that I rarely used and also ceiling fans which most Mexicans relied on. As I recall, after very little use, the minisplits always seemed to break down and needed to be fixed and I early on decided it wasn’t worth the money. If the Mexicans could live with the fans alone, I thought I should be able to as well. Fortunately, I happen to like hot weather and not being overweight, temperatures over 100 didn’t really bother me that much . In fact, as I look back on my twelve years in Mexico, I can think of nothing I didn’t adapt to pretty well. Except, perhaps, when a bad neighbor messed with my water and/or electricity on the outside so that I ended up paying more than my share. I fought for my rights at the “Aguacan” and also “Profeco” and managed to win in each case. But it was a bit frightening and made me insecure, also a big waste of time and energy. There was not enough control over things like that, unfortunately. Most Mexicans prefer their own place no matter how modest, and I get it. In my case, there was a safety issue and I lived three flights up with an open techo with a palapa and jacuzzi, etc. Protectores on balconies and everywhere. My kids said I wouldn’t have a chance in a fire, but there were never any fires in Cancun… Los bomberos sometimes came when a muchacha had locked locked herself out and needed to be rescued from one of he balconies. That was always a fear of mine.