Unusual El Niño brings more deadly rain to Peru

Heavy rains continue to cause flooding and mudslides across northern Peru on Tuesday, March 21, with more rain in the forecast, according to Peru’s National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (SENAMHI).

The rains, the heaviest in two decades, are already responsible for 75 deaths and 263 injuries, with 20 people missing.

Peruvian meteorologist Raquel Loayza said the rain is caused by an unusual; localized version of El Niño, which is warming the waters off Peru’s Pacific coast.

Usually a coastal El Niño results from a more general El Niño in the Equatorial Central Pacific, which can trigger droughts and flooding all around the world.

The storm system ravaging Peru is purely local, according to experts. Some scientists think climate change might be responsible.

Meteorologists expect another month of torrential rain.

About half of the nation has been placed under a state of emergency, as government officials try to evacuate residents.

So far less rain has fallen this year than in the last severe El Niño, in 1998, which resulted in 374 deaths, but more rain has fallen in a shorter period of time than in 1998.

Reuters