Panama and El Salvador declare emergency due to El Nino-linked drought

On August 25, 2026, the governments of Panama and El Salvador declared states of emergency to combat the severe effects of the El Nino climate phenomenon. In Panama, Minister of Interior Dinoska Montalvo announced the measure to accelerate administrative responses to extreme weather, which has already led to reduced shipping traffic in the Panama Canal. The government aims to prepare for potential further disruptions caused by what experts project could be one of the strongest El Nino events on record.

In El Salvador, authorities declared a maximum alert level due to prolonged drought and record-breaking August temperatures. The agricultural sector is facing significant losses, with small and medium producers estimating a 20% decline in grain harvests. The country is partially situated in the 'Dry Corridor' of Central America, a region highly vulnerable to climate shifts. Similarly, Honduras has placed nearly 80% of its territory under alert after experiencing crop failures in corn and bean production. El Nino, a natural cycle occurring every two to seven years, is causing significant warming of Pacific waters, leading to widespread shifts in global wind and precipitation patterns.