A calamity named El Nino

Many of us are familiar with natural disasters like typhoons, storm surges, earthquakes and earthquake induced tsunamis and even volcanic eruptions

But a disaster that most of us are not aware of is drought induced by El Nino, the name given to the phenomenon of sea currents becoming hotter than normal.

With climate change, this El Nino phenomenon can only be more intense and more frequent. In fact there is one occurring now. What I am worried about is its intensity and duration.

A  prolonged drought in our part of the country will definitely be disastrous for all of us. Our agriculture will suffer as well as our energy dependent industries. And we might have to undergo extreme water and even electricity rationing.

When we talk of natural disasters, we tend to think of typhoons and bad wet weather. But I wonder if we have sufficiently prepared for its extreme opposite which is a severe and prolonged dry spell that can be just as harsh and calamitous.