Prevention measures are being strengthened in response to the growing impact of high temperatures on health
The Cartagena City Council and the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia are launching a campaign to protect people who are particularly vulnerable to heatwaves, within the framework of the Interreg Euro-Med HEATSAFE project.
The Cartagena City Council and the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia (FMRM) have launched a local awareness-raising and prevention campaign on heatwaves as part of the Interreg Euro-Med HEATSAFE project, coinciding with a high-temperature alert currently in force in the port city.
The campaign will run until September and aims to inform the public, encourage self-protection measures and strengthen support for people who are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures.
Extreme heat represents a growing public health risk. In Spain, an estimated 3,832 deaths were attributable to high temperatures in 2025, while the risk of mortality can increase by up to 10.7% for every degree by which temperatures exceed the health-risk threshold.
In response to these figures, the campaign will promote simple and practical recommendations to reduce the effects of heat, including drinking water regularly, avoiding exposure to the sun during the hottest hours of the day, staying in cool or air-conditioned places, following the advice of the health authorities and paying particular attention to older people and those who live alone.
The initiative builds on the work carried out through the Interreg Euro-Med HEATSAFE project to improve the capacity of Mediterranean cities and municipalities to anticipate and respond to episodes of extreme heat.
Víctor Manuel López Abenza, President of the Federation of Municipalities, stated: “This is an example of how the Federation is working side by side with local councils, providing them with technical support on current issues that can also affect people’s health, while adding value to municipal management.”
He added: “The projects we implement with European funding give us the opportunity to explore necessary measures in greater depth and to develop pioneering actions that can subsequently be replicated across all 45 municipalities.”
In Cartagena, EuroVértice, a project partner, is responsible for preparing the Local Heat Action Plan and facilitating the governance process. This work is based on a territorial analysis that identifies the areas most exposed to heat and the population groups facing the greatest risk due to age, health, isolation, disability, occupational exposure or social vulnerability.
Priority groups include older people, particularly those living alone; people with chronic illnesses or disabilities; children, especially those under the age of three; pregnant women; homeless people; outdoor workers; and families with a lower capacity to adapt to extreme heat.
The campaign, coordinated by the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia, will combine content shared through social media and municipal communication channels, graphic and informational materials, short videos, community activities and cooperation with local media outlets.
In addition, the Cartagena City Council, EuroVértice and the FMRM will work on key messages aimed at health centres, social services, Civil Protection, associations, NGOs, educational centres and centres for older people, so that preventive information reaches those facing the greatest risks directly.
Cristina Mora, Councillor for Social Policy, stated: “At the Cartagena City Council, we work to protect the safety and health of our residents, particularly during periods of extreme-heat alerts such as those we are currently experiencing. In line with our Mayor’s commitment to families and the most vulnerable people, we are launching an awareness campaign that not only provides information but also takes direct action in our neighbourhoods.”
This initiative represents the first phase of the local intervention under the Interreg Euro-Med HEATSAFE project. During 2027, the project will continue to promote new urban adaptation measures in Cartagena and strengthen the protection of residents against extreme heat.
“Through Interreg Euro-Med HEATSAFE, we aim to help municipalities anticipate risks, coordinate their resources and better protect the population against a climate-related threat that is already having direct consequences for people’s health and daily lives,” highlighted the Federation of Municipalities of the Region of Murcia.
