'Super' El Niño could cause 451,000 excess deaths, researchers say
Researchers say the toll will fall heaviest in poorer countries, with 66,800 projected deaths in Africa’s Sahel and 31,400 in Nigeria.
- On Wednesday, the Chicago-based Climate Impact Lab released a report warning that El Niño could cause 451,000 additional heat-related deaths worldwide between June 2026 and February 2027.
- Amplified by human-caused climate change, this El Niño event could raise global land temperatures by about 1.2 Celsius , producing 44% more extremely hot days than typical.
- The Global South faces the heaviest burden, with the Sahel region in Africa expected to see 66,800 deaths, while researchers project 19,400 across Southeast Asia, 15,800 in India, and 13,300 in Brazil.
- Governments can mitigate risks through heat-warning systems and cooling centers, which authors say provide an opportunity "to see exactly where emergency actions can be taken now to save tens of thousands of lives."
- Implementation of well-thought-out plans remains challenging, said Abhiyant Tiwari, a heat expert at NRDC India, who added, "The real measure of our preparedness is not how many heat warnings we issue, but how effectively we protect people and reduce preventable deaths.
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152 Articles
Scientists predict 450,000 extra deaths due to El Niño in 2026
Super El Nino Projected To Cause Over 4,50,000 Deaths Across Globe in Next 6 Months: Report | 🌎 LatestLY
A report by the Climate Impact Lab warns that the current super El Niño could cause over 4,50,000 additional heat deaths globally in the next six months. Breaking ocean temperature records, the extreme cycle will hit tropical nations including Nigeria, India, and Indonesia hardest. Experts urge rapid deployment of cooling centres, worker protections, and early warning systems. 🌎 Super El Nino Projected To Cause Over 4,50,000 Deaths Across Globe…
Climate change and the extremely strong El Niño weather phenomenon could cause more than 450,000 additional deaths worldwide in the next six months, climate scientists warn. The worst is expected in tropical countries in Africa, Asia and South America, with the consequences also being felt in the United States.
'450,000 Deaths in Next Six Months': Massive El Niño Threat Prompts Global Humanitarian Red Alert
A Climate Impact Lab analysis estimates that current El Niño-related heat could cause 451,000 excess deaths from September 2026 to February 2027, with the Sahel facing the highest projected toll.
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