Mt Nyiragongo

• Agriculture accounts for 55% of Democratic Republic of Congo’s economy – the most fertile soils in the country are found around Nyiragongo and its neighbouring volcano Nyamuragira (they both account for 40% of all recorded volcanic activity in Africa)
• 1977 Eruption

  • January 10th seismic activity in the region caused the ‘Lava Lake’ to drain
  • The crater walls fractured and the lava was able to flow down the flanks of the volcano – some of the fastest ever recorded flows 90km/hr
  • These flows slowed towards the bottom, however they still managed to kill more than 70 people and consume several local villages
  • A new volcano was born during this eruption called Murara
  • It was this eruption that designated the volcano a ‘Decade Volcano’
• 2002 Eruption

  • Small amounts of seismic activity had been recorded in early January
  • It was thought to be insignificant
  • The volcano unexpectedly erupted on January 17th
• The seismic activity caused a 13km long fissure to open on the southern flank of the volcano…
• Lava flows 2m deep flowed to the city of Goma destroying 1/3 of the 200,000 strong city 
• Impacts

  • People were asphyxiated by released carbon dioxide
  • Crushed by falling buildings
  • 15% of Goma destroyed, a further 20% badly damaged
  • Commercial centre destroyed (containing medical centres and a hospital)
  • 4500 buildings destroyed
  • Water and power supplied damaged
  • 120,000 people homeless
  • Lava entered Lake Kivu (Drinking Water)