<p>The 10-day heatwave that hit Spain left "more than 500 people" dead, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>"During this heatwave, more than 500 people died because of such high temperatures, according to the statistics," Sanchez said, referring to a public health institute estimate based on excess mortality rates.</p>.<p>"I ask citizens to exercise extreme caution," the premier said, noting the "climate emergency is a reality".</p>.<p>Spain was gripped by a heatwave affecting much of Western Europe which pushed temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions last week, sparking dozens of wildfires.</p>.<p>Sanchez cited figures from the Carlos III Health Institute which estimates the number of heat-related deaths based on the number of excess deaths when compared to the average in previous years.</p>.<p>The institute has qualified these figures in recent days, stressing that it was a statistical estimate and not a record of official deaths.</p>
<p>The 10-day heatwave that hit Spain left "more than 500 people" dead, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>"During this heatwave, more than 500 people died because of such high temperatures, according to the statistics," Sanchez said, referring to a public health institute estimate based on excess mortality rates.</p>.<p>"I ask citizens to exercise extreme caution," the premier said, noting the "climate emergency is a reality".</p>.<p>Spain was gripped by a heatwave affecting much of Western Europe which pushed temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in some regions last week, sparking dozens of wildfires.</p>.<p>Sanchez cited figures from the Carlos III Health Institute which estimates the number of heat-related deaths based on the number of excess deaths when compared to the average in previous years.</p>.<p>The institute has qualified these figures in recent days, stressing that it was a statistical estimate and not a record of official deaths.</p>