Malaysia called on Southeast Asian countries to strengthen coordination to respond to the risk of super El Nino returning in the near future, with warnings of extreme heat, transboundary smog, water shortages and major impacts on agricultural production as well as the regional economy.
Talking to Xinhua, Ms. Sheeba Chenoli - Associate Professor of Meteorology and Climatology at the University of Malaya - said that regional cooperation and proactive domestic preparation will play a decisive role in minimizing the impacts of this climate phenomenon.
Malaysian authorities warn that the region may face conditions similar to the extreme El Nino in 1997-1998, when Southeast Asia suffered severe smog and widespread water shortages.
According to Ms. Sheeba, Malaysia has prepared many response measures, including the National Disaster Management Agency, the Malaysian Meteorological Administration and the Royal Malaysian Air Force being put on standby to support rescue, overcome the consequences of natural disasters and deploy rain-making activities if necessary.
In addition, the Department of Environment, the Department of Forestry, firefighters and water resource management agencies will also coordinate to handle the risk of forest fires, mudslide fires, smoke and water supply disruptions.
Ms. Sheeba emphasized that response measures should not only stop at the national level but need to be implemented synchronously throughout ASEAN.
ASEAN has effective coordination mechanisms such as the ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Management (AHA Centre), contributing to supporting disaster coordination and response in the region," she said.
In the past, Malaysia sent firefighters and specialized aircraft to Indonesia to support extinguishing forest fires causing smog across borders. Operation Haze in 1997 is considered one of the largest transnational firefighting operations in the region.
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Administration, temperatures in this country could reach 40°C by early 2027 if super El Nino forms as predicted.
Authorities also warned of the risk of forest fires, water shortages, affecting education, public health and traffic disruption. Malaysia is currently using a Fire Risk Assessment System and air quality forecasting models to monitor smog risks, and is ready to deploy cloud-based rainmaking.
Regarding the economy, Ms. Sheeba said that key commodities such as palm oil, natural rubber and rice will be significantly affected by prolonged hot and dry weather.
As one of the world's largest palm oil producers, any production decline in Malaysia will affect the vegetable oil market and global supply chains," she said.
Tourism, transportation and labor productivity may also be affected by smog and water shortages, while respiratory diseases, heatstroke and dengue fever are forecast to increase during the El Nino.
