Deadly El Nino heat threatens nearly half a million more lives

• A report by the Climate Impact Lab warns that this year’s El Nino and the record heat it’s driving could cause up to 451,000 additional deaths by the end of February.
• The projected fatalities are for the entire El Nino period, from June 2026 until the end of February 2027.
• Developing countries in the Global South are expected to bear the heaviest burden of the excessive heat, according to the study.
• Africa 's Sahel region is projected to be the hardest-hit area, with an estimated 66,800 additional deaths caused by El Nino-driven heat.
• The report highlights different measures governments can take, including heat-warning systems, cooling centres, hydration stations, protections for outdoor workers, expanded hospital capacity and targeted outreach to elderly people and other vulnerable groups.

IN FULL

El Nino-driven heat could cause nearly 500,000 more deaths by February