Irun suspends children's activities as heat alert triggers crisis meeting

Irun's city government convened a crisis meeting on Monday as Euskadi remained under a red heat alert and temperatures were forecast to reach about 37C, with the hottest hours expected between noon and 8 p.m.

The immediate response included suspending children's activities in the Ventas neighborhood for the day. City officials also moved the Intercultural Games indoors to the CBA Centro de Cultura y Creatividad.

The measures come as Irun is in the middle of its San Pedro and San Marcial festivities, and the city said the festival program was under review because of the heat.

Festival schedule under review

According to the local report, later institutional events were still scheduled to go ahead at that point, including the official greeting, bonfire lighting and seniors' meal. Officials had not announced broader cancellations when the report was published.

The city has previously promoted a network of climate shelters for heat events, including indoor public spaces such as the CBA, which is now being used for at least one relocated activity.

Regional heat emergency

The Irun decision fits a wider pattern across Euskadi, where regional coverage said the area had entered four consecutive days of red heat alert. A separate report also said public nursery hours were being adjusted across the Basque Country because of the same conditions.

The episode raises immediate public-safety concerns for children, older residents and other vulnerable people, along with fire risk and the possibility of further disruption to local festival programming.

City hall is expected to keep monitoring the situation as temperatures peak, and more changes to events remain possible if the red alert continues.