Powerful El Niño could trigger 450,000 deaths, scientists warn

Scientists have warned that an intensifying El Niño phenomenon could result in more than 450,000 deaths globally, with the poorest nations bearing the brunt of the climate disruption. The forecast reflects growing concerns about the humanitarian consequences of extreme weather patterns in an increasingly interconnected world.

Developing countries already grappling with food insecurity and elevated energy costs face disproportionate risks, researchers said. Nations lacking robust infrastructure and economic reserves to absorb climate shocks are expected to experience the most severe impacts, potentially triggering cascading crises in nutrition, health systems and economic stability.

El Niño, a periodic warming of ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, typically disrupts weather patterns across multiple continents, affecting rainfall, crop yields and disease transmission. The current projection underscores how natural climate oscillations intersect with existing vulnerabilities in poorer economies to amplify human suffering.

The findings add urgency to international discussions about climate adaptation and humanitarian preparedness. Experts have called for strengthened early warning systems and resource allocation to help at-risk populations mitigate the expected impacts of the weather pattern.