El Raval faces extreme heat as vulnerable residents scramble for relief

Barcelona's El Raval neighbourhood, the city's most heat-vulnerable area, is suffering record temperatures, limited green space and inadequate housing, forcing migrants and low-income residents to seek refuge in beaches, shelters and a community garden threatened with eviction.

Barcelona recorded a July high of 40.7 °C, and the Climate Vulnerability Index flags El Raval as the district most exposed to night-time heat, driven by dense housing, low median income and minimal greenery. Studies show a large share of apartments are poorly insulated, trapping heat and endangering residents, especially foreign-born families who make up 67 % of the population. Migrant women gather at the ACESOP centre for meals and fans, while others trek to the beach or municipal climate shelters that often shut at night, leaving seniors like Margarita Medina with limited options.

Researchers highlight that only a fraction of older adults can reach a shelter within ten minutes. The neighbourhood’s self-managed garden, Agora Juan Andres Benitez, offers shade, meals and community care, yet a court has set an eviction date of 8 October, threatening the last informal oasis. City officials plan to plant warm-climate trees, but supply constraints and winter freezes complicate the effort.