# El Niño Heat Deaths Surge

> Strong El Niño linked to 107,035 extra heat deaths yearly worldwide.
- Title: El Niño Heat Deaths Surge · The Rio Times | Shortify
- Summary: Strong El Niño linked to 107,035 extra heat deaths yearly worldwide. Very strong El Niño years cause 107,035 more heat deaths annually globally, with South…
- Keywords: el nino, heat deaths, south america, un human development index, nature medicine, mortality records, climate health, The Rio Times
- Source: The Rio Times — https://riotimesonline.com/el-nino-heat-deaths-107000-nature-medicine
- Author: Valentina Gómez
- Published: 2026-11-10T19:12:56+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: el nino, heat deaths, south america, un human development index, nature medicine, mortality records, climate health, news, world, politics
## El Niño and Heat Deaths
Strong El Niño shifts global heat and rain patterns, increasing heat deaths worldwide.
## Study Finds 107,035 Extra Heat Deaths
A Nature Medicine study links very strong El Niño years to 107,035 additional heat deaths annually.
## South America Most Affected
South America sees 76.13% rise in heat deaths during very strong El Niño years.
## Inequality in Impact
Countries with low and medium UN human development scores hold 42.16% of people but 67.65% of added heat deaths.
## Cold Deaths Offset Heat Deaths
Very strong El Niño years bring 112,681 fewer cold-related deaths annually, partially offsetting heat deaths.
## Study Limitations
The study uses past data and cannot predict deaths in the ongoing 2026-2027 El Niño event.
## Preparation Efforts
Peru has budgeted money to prepare for potential heat deaths during the 2026-2027 El Niño.
## Regional Impact Variations
Small island developing states face 65.93% rise in heat deaths during very strong El Niño years.
## Data Coverage Gaps
Mortality records unavailable for one third of countries, mostly poorer nations.
## Study Authors
ISGlobal researchers led the study, covering 1980 to 2023 with data from 1,667 regions in 125 countries.
## El Niño Definition
El Niño is a periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that shifts rain and heat globally.
## Key takeaway

Very strong El Niño years cause 107,035 more heat deaths annually globally, with South America hit hardest in percentage terms.