Ecuador declared a red alert across its entire territory on Saturday due to the presence of the El Niño phenomenon, which could be the most intense ever recorded, reported the Risk Management Secretariat (Ministry).
The current El Niño event, which would surpass others like those in 2015, 1997, and 1982, is expected to peak towards the end of the year and cause a global heat record in 2027, according to scientific estimates.
Its consequences are already being felt from Central America, hit by drought, to Indonesia, where it fuels intense forest fires.
The ministry stated in a communiqué that it “declared a Red Alert throughout the national territory due to the El Niño event. The measure is adopted considering the evolution of ocean-atmospheric conditions.”
Through a resolution, the activation of Emergency Operations Committees was ordered to coordinate actions such as preventive evacuations and protection of the population in sectors with potential impact.
Read more Earthquake in Peru today, August 30: what was the epicenter and magnitude according to IGP report
El Niño raises surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, triggering global changes in wind patterns, pressure, and precipitation.
The increase in ocean temperature has impacted fishing and birdwatching. The country also anticipates droughts in the Amazon and forest fires.
The strongest event since 1950 in Ecuador was in 1997-1998, which left nearly 300 dead, losses of about 3 billion dollars, and around 20,000 affected, according to official figures.
Read more Earthquake in Chile today, August 30: what was the epicenter and magnitude according to CSN report
