El Niño could cause hundreds of thousands of deaths, scientists predict
According to the Climate Impact Lab, about 239,000 deaths could occur between September 2026 and February 2027.
Extreme heat caused by El Niño could kill more than 450,000 people in the coming months. This forecast was published by the research organization Climate Impact Lab at the University of Chicago, reports TASS.
According to the report, an unusually powerful ocean-atmospheric phenomenon will lead to the loss of 451,000 lives worldwide due to extremely hot days between June 2026 and February 2027.
About 239,000 cases could occur between September 2026 and February 2027. The scientists note that the current phenomenon may be the strongest on record and is a kind of “harbinger of the future”, demonstrating temperatures that will become familiar in 20 years due to climate change.
Countries in the Global South will suffer the most: Nigeria (about 66.8 thousand deaths), Indonesia (19.3 thousand), Sudan, India (15.8 thousand) and Brazil (13.3 thousand) are expected to suffer the most damage.
“We have long been able to predict the impact of temperature on crops, and now we can predict its impact on mortality,” said co-founder and economics professor Michael Greenstone.
The report will help decision-makers see where urgent action can be taken now to save tens of thousands of lives.
Early warning systems, cooling centres, water distribution points and strengthened health services can reduce the number of victims.
Photo: Belt archive
