Peru declares emergency in nearly 800 municipalities over El Niño threat

Peru has placed nearly 800 municipalities under a state of emergency, bracing for the severe impacts of the El Niño phenomenon. The government announced Thursday that the declaration is in response to the "imminent danger" posed by intense rainfall expected to lash the country.

El Niño, a natural event characterized by rising Pacific Ocean surface temperatures, triggers global shifts in wind and rainfall, leading to erratic weather conditions. In Peru, this has already resulted in temperatures reaching 26 degrees Celsius, five degrees above the seasonal average. Authorities estimate that over 9.3 million people nationwide face a very high risk of floods and landslides directly linked to El Niño.

The emergency measure, initially enacted in January, has been extended by interim President José María Balcázar through a decree. This allows for immediate, exceptional actions and rehabilitation efforts in affected areas. Regional and local governments, in coordination with Civil Defense and various ministries, are tasked with implementing these measures to safeguard citizens and critical infrastructure.

The Peruvian entity monitoring El Niño has upgraded its intensity forecast from "moderate" to "strong" for the period between June and September, with projections indicating its persistence into the first quarter of 2027. This comes as U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists assess a 63% probability of a "very strong El Niño episode" occurring between November and January, potentially ranking among the most significant events since 1950. The last major El Niño in 2023 caused 99 deaths in Peru, while earlier episodes in 1997-1998 and 1982-1983 resulted in hundreds of deaths and significant economic downturns.