Mount Nyiragongo

Question 1

Where is Mount Nyiragongo located ?

Answer 1

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is in Central Africa. A very large country on the equator.
The Nyiragongo volcano is located on the east edge of the country, South of the city Goma.

Question 2

Why is Goma vulnerable ?

Answer 2

-Only 15km away from volcano, will directly experience impacts
-Many migrants live there due to conflict (may lack education)
-Agricultural lifestyles on the edges, can’t withstand large impacts
-City is expanding closer to volcano

Question 3

When was the eruption of Nyiragongo ?

Answer 3

January 18th, 2002

Question 4

What was weird about Nyiragongos eruption ?

Answer 4

Had a VEI of 1, yet the death toll was 147.

Question 5

Why did so many people die in the Nyiragongo eruption ?

Answer 5

Due to the eruption being so small, people/scientists may have not prepared. It was an effusive eruption with basic lava. As it’s a LIC many communities did not have the facilities to cope. Poor infrastructure, low development level

Question 6

Primary impacts of mount nyiragongo

Answer 6

-Several earthquakes with eruption
-12,500 homes destroyed
-400,000 people evacuated
-Acid rain (farmland + cattle)
-Crops/livestock destroyed by lava
-Lava covered 15% of Goma and destroyed a third
-Lava covered 80% of airstrips at Goma international airport
-Lava destroyed businesses and sources of income and access to resources
-147 deaths
-Commercial centre of the town destroyed along with water, power and health facilities (1 hospital)

Question 7

Secondary impacts of Nyiragongo eruption

Answer 7

-Destroyed business, unemployment
-120,000 left homeless
-Looting broke out in Goma
-Cholera spread to refugee camps
-Disruption to water supply, hygiene issues and drinking water shortages
-Many fled to Rwanda, issues providing food and shelter

Question 8

Short term responses in the DRC

Answer 8

-400,000 evacuated (this was slow, and limited evacuation plans)
-UN donated 260 tonnes of food (26kg per family)
-UK Oxfam sent 33 tonnes of water cleansing equipment for 50,000 (purification kits for clean drinking)
-WHO conducted emergency measles vaccinations for 28,000 kids
-Temporary refugee camps (Itig) held 7,000 ppl
-Global governments gave $35 million in aid for refugees

Question 9

Long term responses in DRC in terms of planning

Answer 9

-Retraining of officials with precise evacuation plans and designated communities to target
-Training of community officers who can relay info to vulnerable communities

Question 10

Long term responses in DRC in terms of preparation

Answer 10

-30 new signs detailing early warning signs and evacuation routes put up in high risk areas
-Evacuation drills take place in communities and schools
-Distribution of leaflets to vulnerable people for info on evacuation routes, local shelters and general advice
-Red cross has expressed need for more funding for further educational materials

Question 11

Long term responses in the DRC in terms of prediction/monitoring

Answer 11

-Vulcanologists are measuring CO2 levels and within Lake Kivu to predict if levels will become lethal
-Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma constantly monitors
-Lava lake monitored