Peru declares state of emergency due to El Niño risks

The Peruvian government on Tuesday (1/9) declared a state of emergency for 60 days across 893 districts spanning 23 regions, following the real risk of heavy rainfall associated with the 2026-2027 El Niño phenomenon.

The measure was established through a supreme decree published in the official state gazette, El Peruano, with the objective of preventing and reducing the “very high risk” caused by extreme rainfall in the coming months.

Local governments in Peru will implement intervention plans under the technical coordination and monitoring of the National Institute of Civil Defence, supported by relevant ministries as well as public and private institutions.

The decree states that these measures must relate directly to the climate threats and may be adjusted during implementation according to safety requirements and technical reports.

The government stated that the decision was made based on situation reports warning that the capacity of local governments to handle the situation is no longer adequate, necessitating national-level operational and technical support.