Surviving the 2022 Heatwave in Spain
Interviewee: Isabel Moreno, 68, retired teacher
Location: Seville, Spain
Date: July 2022
Q: Can you describe what the heat felt like?
Isabel:
It wasn’t just hot. It was suffocating. You opened the window and it felt like you were standing in front of an oven. At 9 AM it was already 39°C. By noon, it was 44°C. I had never experienced anything like that in my life.
Q: How did it affect your daily routine?
Isabel:
We couldn’t go outside. Even inside, the fans didn’t help. I started soaking towels in cold water and hanging them by the windows. My neighbor collapsed from dehydration. We checked on each other every few hours — especially the elderly.
Q: Were there warnings from the authorities?
Isabel:
Yes, there were text alerts and radio announcements. But no one expected it to last so many days. The power grid struggled too. We had two blackouts in one week — no air conditioning, no fridge, nothing.
Q: What scared you the most?
Isabel:
The nights. The temperature never dropped below 30°C. My husband has a heart condition. I was afraid he’d faint in his sleep. We kept wet towels on our foreheads like children with fevers.
Q: What message would you share with people in cooler countries?
Isabel:
Don’t think this can’t happen to you. It will. The weather is changing faster than we are prepared for. Take heat seriously — it’s not just uncomfortable. It can kill.