Indonesia warns of 11-month water crisis from El Niño

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has urged regional governments across Indonesia to prepare for a potential water crisis that could last up to 11 months due to the El Niño weather pattern. The agency called on local authorities to take early action, including securing clean water supplies and managing reservoirs. El Niño, a climate phenomenon that warms ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific, often reduces rainfall in Indonesia, leading to prolonged drought. BNPB officials stressed the need for coordinated planning to prevent shortages affecting agriculture and daily life.