Peru declares state of emergency over possible El Nino

On April 21, 2023, a Peruvian shaman participates in a ritual to deliver predictions for the upcoming Earth Day, on top of the San Cristobal hill in Lima. The Peruvian government has declared a 60-day state of emergency in 131 districts due to the imminent danger of the possible arrival of the El Nino phenomenon.

The districts were in nine departments, including Apurimac, Cusco, Junin and Puno, according to a decree published in the official gazette El Peruano.

Intense El Ni o is expected to speed up sea level rise.

The plan calls on regional governments, along with the National Civil Defense Institute Indeci, the Ministry of Health and other institutions, to execute emergency, response and rehabilitation operations.

The governments of the nine provinces do not have the response capacity to deal with the foreseen situation brought about by the El Nino phenomenon, which has created national-level assistance, Indeci said.