Governments Brace for Historic El Nino Impact

Governments are preparing for the increased risk of drought, floods, extreme heat, and wildfires as El Nino rapidly intensifies, raising the possibility of a historic climate event later this year.

Sri Lanka has arranged water supplies for nearly 72,000 people across 7 districts as it grapples with drought linked to this year's strong El Nino, a senior official said on Thursday.

Water levels at hundreds of the country's small reservoirs have dropped to about 10%. Households are expected to receive around 75 liters of water every 2-3 days for daily needs via water tankers from areas unaffected by the drought.

The government has allocated 4.8 billion rupees (about $14 million) from its budget for water distribution.

Sri Lanka's Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said the government had expected El Nino to peak around November but now believes it will peak earlier. "We will adjust and expand our response measures as needed," he said.

After September, Patabendi said the year-end monsoon would bring heavy rains, but drought could return early next year.

Situation in Indonesia, Peru, Honduras

Meanwhile in Indonesia, the government said wildfires have scorched more than 200,000 hectares since the start of the year, an area roughly three times the size of the capital Jakarta. In July alone, fires destroyed 95,000 hectares of land across Indonesia due to dry conditions from the strong El Nino.

Dense haze from the fires is blanketing areas such as Palangkaraya, the capital of Central Kalimantan province in Borneo, causing poor air quality. The mayor has advised residents to wear masks and stay indoors. The brownish smoke is reducing visibility for road users.

Indonesia's Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said experts are on standby for cloud seeding operations to extinguish fires and prevent future blazes. "If there is the slightest sign of a cloud suitable for seeding and it is technically feasible, we will carry out weather modification operations," he said.

In addition, the U.S. said it will send a military hospital to Peru's coast next year to help the country cope with El Nino's effects. In Honduras, the government has placed 80% of the country, including the capital, under drought alert after El Nino-related dry weather burned crops and killed livestock.

El Nino is a natural climate phenomenon driven by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. It typically alters weather patterns across much of the world and increases the risk of drought, floods, extreme heat, and wildfires. This year's event is forecast to be one of the strongest on record.