El Niño Is Back, and It Could Double 2026 Wildfires — ‘Godzilla’ Threat Looms Over Southeast Asia

Scientists are warning that a powerful El Niño, dubbed a potential “Godzilla El Niño,” is emerging in the Pacific Ocean, threatening to double the already record-breaking wildfire season of 2026 and unleash a devastating cycle of drought, flash floods, and haze across Southeast Asia [147722][147954].

More than 150 million hectares have already burned worldwide in the first half of 2026 — an area more than twice the size of Texas [147954]. Now, rising sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific signal the arrival of an El Niño event, which typically brings hotter and drier conditions to many parts of the world, creating ideal fuel for large fires [147722][147954].

The phenomenon is causing extreme “climate whiplash,” swinging between severe dry spells and sudden, intense floods [147722]. Experts warn this comes at a fragile moment for emerging economies in the region, where governments and households already face pressure from geopolitical tensions, higher energy costs, and reduced remittances, leaving them with less capacity to absorb climate shocks [147722].

The United Nations Environment Assembly recently concluded with a strong call for accelerated global action on the interconnected crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, urging countries to increase the speed and scale of their environmental interventions [21446]. But for Southeast Asia, the immediate threat is clear: as El Niño strengthens, the region faces a brutal season of fire, haze, and water crisis [147722][147954].