Nyiragongo African rift valley eruption.

• Virunga mountains


  • Located in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Nyiragongo volcano


  • Lava is very fluid due to low silica content
  • African superplume feeds the active lava lake
  • Magma erupts from fissures in the flanks of the volcano
• Goma


  • Population of 1 million
  • Suffered from regional instability and military conflicts
  • High altitude (1500m) and extended growing season and fertile soils encouraged people to move here
• Earthquakes accompanying the eruption


  • One measuring over 5 on the Richter scale
  • Strong enough to cause structural damage to some buildings
• Cholera spread due to the lack of sanitation
• Thousands of people needed medical attention from the effects of smoke and fumes from the lava as well as problems from drinking the contaminated water
• Eruption violence


  1 on the VEI scale
• 45 people died in the first 24 hours and 150 people in total
• Lava flow destroyed 1/3 of Goma and covered the northern third of the runway at Goma airport
• Speed of lava was 60km/h
• Nearly 400,000 people were displaced fleeing over the border to Rwanda
• 14 nearby villages were destroyed
• A 13km fissure opened on the southern flank of the volcano spewing lava towards Goma and Lake Kivu
• The commercial centre of the town was destroyed and the water and power supply as well. 4 healthcare centres were also destroyed which was 80% of all assets