Colombia Among Top 50 Countries Where Most People Will Die from El Niño-Related Heat
As the consolidation of the El Niño phenomenon advances, perspectives that address it from different angles are emerging. Water, diseases, housing, scientific research, livestock farming, and even moving the clocks forward in Colombia are some of them. But a new report is shocking because it refers to the deaths of people that will be caused […]
A recent analysis by the Climate Impact Lab reveals that El Niño is expected to cause a staggering 451,000 excess deaths due to heat across 50 countries in the coming months. Scientists project global land temperatures to be 1.2°C (2.1°F) above normal, largely attributed to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon that began in June and is forecasted to persist until May 2027.
The report states that during the first nine months of El Niño, from June to February, an estimated 239,000 deaths worldwide are projected. However, as the current forecast suggests El Niño will persist until spring 2027, these figures are expected to rise further. The regions with the highest projected death tolls include the Sahel in Africa, where 66,800 additional heat-related deaths are expected between September and February, with Nigeria accounting for the majority at 31,400.
Other countries facing significant heat-related mortality include Sudan (17,500), Niger (10,000), Chad (8,000), Southeast Asia (19,400 in the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, and 19,300 in Indonesia), India (15,800), and Brazil (13,300).
Despite these alarming projections, the report also offers a glimmer of hope, stating that targeted actions could potentially save tens of thousands of lives during this period.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
