EARTH shattering heat fears

Return of El Nino could cause chaos

- SEAN MURPHY

THE UN has issued new warnings about the Earth heating up to world record temperatures amid changes to the destructive weather phenomenon El Nino.

Chiefs at the World Meteorological Organisation in the UN yesterday claimed the expected return of El Nino within months means the "world should prepare".

El Nino - which heats the planet - has an 80% chance of returning this year to cause dangerous heatwaves, increased rainfall, raised sea levels, severe droughts and hurricanes throughout 2024, plus economic damage from extreme natural disasters, according to climatologists.

The UN's WMO chief Petteri Taalas has called for effective early warning systems "to keep people safe".

He warned: "The world should prepare for the development of El Nino.

"It could trigger more extreme weather and climate events.