El-Nino heat spell could kill over 450,000 people around the world

A new report estimates that El Niño's heat could cause an additional 451,000 deaths worldwide from October 2026 to February 2027, mainly affecting the Global South. Countries such as the DRC, Nigeria, and Sudan are expected to face severe impacts, with around 60,000 people at risk. Global land temperatures could rise by about 2.1°F (1.2°C) above the 1996–2025 baseline, driven by El Niño and climate change. Nigeria, Indonesia, Sudan, India, Brazil, and the DRC are projected to experience the highest heat-related death tolls.