According to the World Food Programme and United Nations officials, about 50 million people will likely be pushed into acute hunger as Asian governments rush preparations for an intensifying El Niño weather event expected to peak toward the end of the year and into 2027. Fueled by warm tropical Pacific ocean conditions and the climate crisis, the severe weather system brings concurrent crises of extreme heat, heavy rainfall, and food shortages across the region.
China Launches Climate Risk Maps and 100-Day Campaign
According to official reports, mainland China launched a 100-day campaign to prepare for extreme weather and protect harvests against opposing extremes of drought and intense rainfall. Beijing plans to upgrade early warning monitoring systems. In July, the government introduced a national plan encouraging cities to draw up climate risk maps to identify areas most vulnerable to flooding and severe heat, as reported by authorities.
Taiwan Conducts Mass Heatwave Exercises
Taiwan is treating predicted extreme weather as an emergency situation, holding mass exercises similar to preparations for terrorist attacks or earthquakes. In early September, the island nation held a field exercise simulating three consecutive days of temperatures above 40C, which included drills for power and water disruption, rail problems, air conditioner failure, and mass heatstroke, according to official statements. The government also tested its Cool Map online platform to direct vulnerable people to air-conditioned spaces.
Hong Kong Revises Workplace Heat Policies
In Hong Kong, authorities revised workplace policies after the city experienced its hottest day on record on August 9. Companies are expected to reschedule work, provide cooling equipment, and offer rest breaks during extreme heat. Employers in the international financial hub face potential prosecution if they fail to provide adequate staff support during sweltering conditions, according to local authorities.
South Asia Faces Agricultural Shortfalls and Water Scarcity
In India, parts of the country experienced a monsoon rainfall shortfall of almost 50% in September, impacting key crops like rice, pulses, cotton, and maize. Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan described government efforts to establish a protective shield for farmers, with authorities boosting water conservation infrastructure and encouraging the planting of low-water, short-duration crops across more than 350 vulnerable districts. In Sri Lanka, the worst drought in a decade has left more than 160,000 people facing drinking water shortages as key reservoirs dry up, according to disaster management officials. Officials closed tourist areas of Yala national park to bring in water tankers for wildlife ponds, while the disaster management center prepares for potential situations where Colombo might be forced to process saltwater from the sea.
South-East Asia Tackles Compounding Food Security Risks
South-east Asian governments face compounding pressures from regional conflicts disrupting energy and supply chains, alongside severe haze from seasonal fires in Malaysia and Indonesia. Regional rice yields are projected to fall by 8 to 10%, according to experts. Elyssa Kaur Ludher, a visiting fellow with the Climate Change for Southeast Asia Programme at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, noted that while Singaporeans spend under 10% of their income on food, Indonesians can spend up to 50% or more, making price rises disproportionately impactful. Kaur Ludher has argued for reframing food security as a national security issue due to its ties to social stability.
South Korea Overhauls Heatwave Alert System
South Korea experienced its driest July on record in the country’s south-east, followed by a storm system deluge that dumped some of the heaviest rainfall ever recorded at a local weather station. The Korea Meteorological Administration overhauled its heatwave alert system for the first time in 18 years, adding a top tier that triggers official guidance to halt non-emergency outdoor work when feels-like temperatures reach 38C, according to the agency.
Japan Prepares for Record Heat and Super-Typhoons
Japan is bracing for the arrival of super-typhoons and record-breaking heat, which experts attribute to a combination of El Niño and human-induced global heating. The country recorded its first official cruelly hot day, or kokushobi, in July when temperatures exceeded 40C. The infrastructure ministry announced that several high-risk underpasses on national highways will be closed preemptively during heavy rain following recent fatal flood incidents.
Did You Know?
During the previous 2023–2024 El Niño event, south-east Asian governments adjusted planting calendars and managed water to cushion agricultural impacts, though experts warn those strategies will be insufficient for the scale of the current weather system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this El Niño event considered so severe?
According to the World Food Programme and United Nations officials, exceptionally warm ocean conditions across the tropical Pacific combined with the human-driven climate crisis are driving the intensity of the weather system.
How many people are threatened by acute hunger?
The World Food Programme warns that about 50 million people will likely be pushed into acute hunger due to the intense weather system.
What measures are governments taking for agriculture?
Governments like India are encouraging farmers to plant low-water, short-duration crops and boosting water conservation infrastructure in vulnerable districts, while south-east Asian cooperatives are promoting regenerative agriculture and biofertilizers.
How is Sri Lanka managing its water crisis?
Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst drought in a decade, forcing officials to truck water into wildlife parks and consider processing saltwater from the sea if freshwater supplies vanish entirely.
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