El Niño could cause 451,000 more heat deaths compared to normal year, group says

An estimated 451,000 more people could die as a result of excessive heat in the first nine months of the current El Niño compared with a typical year, according to a report from the University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab."That's on top of the impacts from droughts, wildfires and flooding expected from hotter temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns as this El Niño could become the strongest on record," the research hub said in a news release Wednesday.Map shows which regions face highest risksCountries across the Global South are forecast to see the greatest impacts, with Nigeria, Sudan, Niger and Chad expected to record more than 65,000 heat-related deaths combined. The Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia are expected to record close to 40,000 deaths collectively, while Brazil and India could also see high death tolls, according to researchers. This color-coded map shows the global spread of additional heat-related deaths forecast in September 2026, compared with a typical year, according to a new report from University of Chicago's Climate Impact Lab. Darker shades represent higher concentrations of deaths than lighter ones. Climate Impact Lab The projec...