Powerful El Nino Could Cause More Than 450,000 Deaths, Scientists Say

A powerful El Nino event could be linked to more than 450,000 deaths, according to scientists, with the heaviest toll expected to fall on poorer countries.

The report highlights that nations already struggling with food insecurity and high energy costs are likely to be hit hardest by the effects of the climate pattern. El Nino, a periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean, is known to disrupt weather patterns globally, contributing to droughts, floods and other extreme conditions depending on the region.

These disruptions can in turn affect agricultural output and food supplies, compounding existing vulnerabilities in countries that already face economic pressures. The report's projected death toll reflects the cumulative impact of these cascading effects rather than direct casualties from any single weather event.

The findings add to a body of research examining how climate variability intersects with poverty and food insecurity to produce significant humanitarian consequences, particularly in regions with fewer resources to adapt to or recover from extreme weather.