Key Takeaways
- El Nino weather pattern expected to cause 451,000 additional heat-related deaths worldwide.
- Developing countries, particularly in Africa and Southeast Asia, will be most affected.
- Global land temperatures could rise 1.2°C above normal, leading to more extreme hot days.
This year’s powerful El Nino weather pattern is projected to cause an additional 451,000 heat-related deaths worldwide, according to researchers from the Climate Impact Lab at the University of Chicago.
The warming phenomenon, declared in June, is expected to peak later this year and could become the strongest El Nino on record, intensifying the effects of human-driven climate change.
Researchers estimate that global land temperatures could remain 1.2°C above normal in the coming months, resulting in 44% more extremely hot days than in a typical year.
Developing countries are expected to bear much of the projected death toll, with the Sahel region of Africa potentially recording an additional 66,800 heat-related deaths, including nearly half in Nigeria.
Indonesia could see around 19,300 additional deaths, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia could collectively record another 19,400.
The projections also include 15,800 additional deaths in India and 13,300 in Brazil.
The report comes after the United Nations warned that El Nino poses a significant threat to global health.
Researchers said the projections could help governments prepare heat warnings, cooling centers, and hydration stations to protect vulnerable populations.
