El Niño Hits HardThis year’s El Niño is underway, and it might end up being the strongest in 140 years. The region is already facing higher prices as result of the Iran war, and El Niño will only intensify that. This year’s El Niño follows another strong El Niño event, which lasted from 2023 to 2024. The effects on Southeast Asia will also be felt around the world, as the region is a major producer of staple crops. Its Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has indicated that El Niño is now making itself felt even more strongly.