Nyiragongo Flashcards
When
2002
Where
DRC, East African rift valley, between lakes Kivu and Edward, 15km North of city of Goma
How many and what type of people in Goma
500,000, many 1994 Rwandan genocide refugees
Lava type
Very fluid melilite lava with a lows SiO2 content, contain lava lake
The eruption
13km fissure of South side of volcano, lava reached 60 km/hr, 14-34m m3 lava
Lava flows
Covered 15% city, exploded a petrol station with 50 people siphoning fuel in
Gas
CO2 asphyxiation, methane bursts
Crater collapse effects
Seismic activity, hot ashfall formed a 10cm thick layer over nearby Rusaya, 20km fracture system through villages like Kasenyi so future slope stability issues (2 months later seismic activity)
How many evacuated
400,000 but slow as many went to see so 50,000 trapped between lava flows
WHO and MSF response
Conducted emergency measles vaccinations to 28,000 children to stop refugee camp spread
UN response
Sent 260 tonnes of food within a week
Worldwide government response
$35m aid
Issues with aid
Airport damaged so arrival disrupted, poor communication meant refugees went home when unsafe
How many deaths
147
How many buildings destroyed
2 hospitals, 4500 buildings, airport
How many homeless
120,000 homeless, causing overcrowded refugee champs e.g. Kanyaruchinya as can’t afford rebuilding
What were the refugee camp issues
Cholera breakout, UK Oxfam gave 33 tonnes water cleansing kit
Environmental impacts
Acid rain damaged farmland, ash clouds 100km from area
Impact on Lake Kivu
Lava flows in, over 800m lava delta, has over 1000x the CO2 of Lake Nyos so ongoing studies
How many fled to Rwanda to escape lava
350,000
Issues with monitoring before
Unrest, 3/5 stations destroyed in 1997-2003 civil war
New monitoring strategies
Lake Kivu surveillance with a submersible sent by France
New planning strategies
Officials retrained in evacuation and communication and given communities to support
New preparation strategies
30 new high risk area signs detailing early warning signs, evacuation maps and drills, advisory leaflets to vulnerable. However, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies said need for more education funds
New prediction strategies
Lava lake levels read, Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma monitors
