Mt Nyiragongo - volcanic eruption LIC

Question 1

Where is Mt Nyiragongo?

Answer 1

Virunga mountains in Democratic Republic Of Congo associated with African Rift Valley

Question 2

How big is the main crater of the volcano?

Answer 2

250 metres deep, 2 km wide and contains a lava lake

Question 3

How many times has it erupted since 1882?

Answer 3

34 times

Question 4

What is lava like at this volcano?

Answer 4

runny and moves downhill at speeds of up to 90 km an hour

Question 5

What is Goma part of?

Answer 5

a fertile agricultural region

Question 6

What is the altitude of Goma?

Answer 6

1,500 metres

Question 7

What have encouraged people to live here?

Answer 7

fertile volcanic soils and the extended growing season

Question 8

When did Mt Nyriagongo erupt?

Answer 8

January 2002

Question 9

What were there warnings sent out about?

Answer 9

the lava flows

Question 10

How big was the fissure?

Answer 10

13 km opening on the southern flank of the volcano

Question 11

What was it recorded on the VEI scale?

Answer 11

1

Question 12

How many inhabitants in Goma?

Answer 12

over 200,000

Question 13

What did lava flows destroy?

Answer 13

1/3 of Goma, and northern third of the runway

Question 14

How many health centres and hospitals destroyed?

Answer 14

3 health centres, 1 hospital

Question 15

What was the death toll?

Answer 15

147

Question 16

How many people fled to Rwanda?

Answer 16

350,000

Question 17

What entered Lake Kivu?

Answer 17

sulphurous lava which poisoned water

Question 18

What was there a fear of regarding Lake Kivu?

Answer 18

the rise in temperature due to the lava could allow toxic gases to be released from the lake bed

Question 19

What were some of the earthquakes which accompanied the eruption measured as?

Answer 19

5 on the richter scale

Question 20

What occurred within abandoned homes?

Answer 20

looting

Question 21

What was the initial response?

Answer 21

authorities issued a red alert which enabled a full evacuation to take place

Question 22

What was the UN able to do two days after the eruption?

Answer 22

ferry in aid

Question 23

What did emergency rations initially consist of?

Answer 23

high energy biscuits, maize/beans/cooking oil

Question 24

What were set up to help displaced people?

Answer 24

camps

Question 25

What was the cost of the eruption?

Answer 25

$15 million

Question 26

How many people were evacuated?

Answer 26

400,000

Question 27

What made it difficult to monitor?

Answer 27

Unrest in the country

Question 28

What have they now done to help future eruptions?

Answer 28

Regular data gathering
Volcanic observatory
Practice drills