Mount Nyiragongo, 2021 (LIC)

Question 1

Where is the volcano located? What is it near?

Answer 1

East side of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is near Rwanda, Goma, and a major city with 670,000 people.

Question 2

What plate boundary does it sit on?

Answer 2

Constructive plate boundary.

Question 3

How many people died?

Answer 3

32

Question 4

How many homes were lost?

Answer 4

Over 1000

Question 5

What were the effects of this volcanic eruption?

Answer 5

• Lava flow crossed the N2 road, cutting off city of Goma to city of Beni.
• Multiple aftershock earthquakes occurred days after the eruption.
• 450,000 people were displaced.
• Destroyed an important water pipe and damaged a reservoir, cutting off water for 500,000 people.

Question 6

How fast was the lava flowing?

Answer 6

Around 40mph.

Question 7

What were the responses to the eruption?

Answer 7

• 6 temporary shelters built.
• UNHCR funded accommodation for over 1,300 families in Goma.
• USA provided more than $130 million worth of aid to DRC.
• UNICEF installed 15 emergency chlorination plants to help prevent cholera, and installed 1,500 metres worth of pipes to replace the ones that had been melted.
• Authorities considering moving parts of Goma to the town of Sake due to the threats of eruption. However, this would be expensive and it would be difficult to convince many residents to move.