A TWO-YEAR-OLD GIRL has died after being left in a hot car in north-western Spain.

Police are investigating the incident, which happened on Wednesday in Brión, a town about 14 km east of Santiago de Compostela.

Local media reports say the girl’s father forgot to drop her off at daycare before he went to work, leaving his daughter in the car for about six hours.

Temperatures in Brión have been unseasonably high this week, surpassing 25 degrees most days. 

The alarm was raised in the afternoon when the girl’s mother went to pick her up from the nursery at 3pm and was told she had not come in that day.

The parents called the emergency services and the girl was taken to a health centre in the nearby town of Bertamiráns. The girl had reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest. She was pronounced dead at the health centre.

Authorities are investigating the incident and the parents are receiving psychological support.

In response to the tragedy, the town’s council has declared a two-day official mourning period.

“We would like to convey our deepest condolences and all our support to the family of the little girl who lost her life in Brión yesterday, as well as to all her friends, while we make all the municipal resources they need available to them in these difficult times,” the council said in a statement.

Flags on municipal buildings will fly at half-mast today and tomorrow.

The council will also have a minute’s silence in its square at midday on Friday.