The big Nyiragongo, Congo january 2002 Flashcards
1
Q
Where is the Volcano located?
A
- It lies in the Virunga Mountains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2
Q
How deep is the main crater?
A
- 250m deep.
3
Q
What is the name of the valley this Volcano occurred on?
A
- East African Rift Valley
4
Q
What percentage of Volcanic eruptions per year in the Congo?
A
- 40% percent of Africa’s recorded VOlcanic eruptions.
5
Q
What type of lava is produced by the Nyiragongo Volcano?
A
- It’s very fluid.
- Known to have moved down the hill at over 90 kilometres per hour.
- Basaltic
6
Q
Risk and Vulnerability? Why would some people still live here?
A
- High altitude (1500m) and fertile soils encourage lots of people to farm there.
7
Q
Risk and Vulnerability? Why is the main danger of this volcano?
A
- Poisonous carbon dioxide gas seeping from the ground around the volcano.
- Lava flows can easily overflow
8
Q
Risk and Vulnerability? How large was the fissure that opened up?
A
- 13 km fissure opened up on the Southern Flank of the volcano spewing lava up to two metres deep.
9
Q
What were the major effects of the volcano?
A
- Destroyed 1 third of Goma
- 350,000 inhabitants displaced
- Lava covered the northern third of the runway at Goma airport
- 147 people died.
- Sulfurous lava entered Lake Kivu and poisoned the water.
- Thousands of people required medical attention.
10
Q
What were the initial responses to the eruption?
A
- Authorities issued a red alert
- Full evacuation of the surrounding areas.
- Two days later a UN ferry delivered humanitarian aid.
- Camps were set up by the UN.
- The cost of looking after the displaced people was $15 million
11
Q
What were the impacts of the eruption?
A
- Lava flows destroyed many houses and businesses, meaning unemployment surged in the area.
- animals and children have died due to inhaling the poisonous gases.
