Solange l and francine r, two of only four female rangers working for the virunga park. During the 2002 nyiragongo eruption, new fractures opened on. Nyiragongo chris jackson, xand van tulleken and aldo kane take part in an extraordinary expedition to one of the worlds most dangerous, spectacular and least known volcanoes. A 2002 nyiragongo eruption fissure is used as a water catchment. Its last eruption in 1977 killed around 70 people when molten rock burst through long cracks, called fissures, lining the mountains flanks. Mount nyiragongo in the democratic republic of congo showing signs of life again, after catastrophic 2002 eruption. How hazardous is the gas accumulation in lake kivu. In 2002 several vents opened along a huge system of fractures, pouring out lava which reached and destroyed a considerable part of goma, a town of about 500,000 inhabitants on the shore of lake kivu. Basu says this is because nyamuragira is being fed from the edge of where the plumes head is pooling, mixing in elements of melted crust and upper mantle, whereas nyiragongo is being fed directly from the plumes main body. Funny food songs vhs sesame workshop version duration. Jan 20, 2002 a british plane carrying aid for the victims of the mount nyiragongo eruption in the democratic republic of congo has arrived in the region.
The january 17 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano started suddenly at 8. May 11, 2016 mount nyiragongo in the democratic republic of congo showing signs of life again, after catastrophic 2002 eruption. This icon serves as a link to download the essential. The volcanic earthquakes have come mainly from nyiragongo volcano, which contains an active lava lake. Nyiragongo is an active volcano of the virunga mountains in the east of the democratic republic of the congo in central africa. In contrast, nyiragongo is a stratovolcano, spattered with almost a hundred parasitic cones. An active lava lake churns in the crater of mount nyiragongo volcano, kibati, virunga national park, democratic republic of congo drc. The astonishing images of the eruption of mount nyiragongo reinforce many peoples feeling of helplessness. During the 20th century, volcanic eruptions have killed more than 75,000 people. In january 2002, fastflowing basalt lava, 1,000 kilometres wide poured out of mount nyiragongo and into the city of goma.
January 2002 volcanotectonic eruption of nyiragongo volcano, democratic republic of congo. A similar event happened again in january 2002, when lava flows from flank vents drained the lake and cut through goma, reaching lake kivu. Nyiragongo is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world for the risk associated with the propagation of lava flows. Nyiragongo in the democratic mt nyiragongo republic of congo drc had a goma major effect on the residents of the rift valley nearby town of goma on the shores of lake kivu in central africa. United nations officials estimate that 45 people have died in the 24 hours since redhot lava began pouring out of mount nyiragongo down through the eastern town of goma and on into lake kivu, which straddles the rwandan border. Jan 29, 2002 estimates of the impact of nyiragongo volcano eruption on wildlife begin tuesday, january 29, 2002 the nyiragongo volcano is one of eight in drc along the border with rwanda. The eruption effectively involved a reopening and extension of the 1977 fault system and a renewed drainage of the lava lake, followed by the eruption of some magma from a deeper source. Twice in recent history, nyiragongo has had two devastating volcanic eruptions, the first related to the lava lake, while the second from a deadly eruption off the flank of the volcano. Jan 23, 2002 volcano causes widespread devastation in congo by john farmer 23 january 2002 the eruption of mount nyiragongo has driven at least half a million people from their homes. Another volcano, nyamuragira, just 15 miles to the north of nyiragongo displays much more conventional lava compositions. The present update attempts to reflect on the response given and constraints. Nyiragongo in 2002 a major eruption from mt key terms. Mount nyiragongo is an active volcano in virunga national park, democratic republic of the congo. In contrast to its neighbor volcano, nyamuragira, a typical, and very active shield volcano comparable with mauna loa, the 3470mhigh nyiragongo displays the steep slopes of a stratovolcano.
Global volcanism program report on nyiragongo dr congo. In 2002, the nyiragongo volcano in the democratic republic of the congo erupted. Nyiragongo is a twomilehigh volcano towering over the eastern edge of the democratic republic of the congo drcone of the most active volcanoes on the planet and also one of the least studied. Early warnings of tremors weeks before were not acted upon, and the ledc failed to prepare for the eruption. A selection of photographs taken by ingrid smet during our june 2017 nyiragongo lava lake and mountain gorillas expedition in the dr congo which included a 3 days nights stay on nyiragongo volcano. The 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano lasted for one day, destroyed 15% of goma, including part of the international airport and the business centre. Nyiragongo is a socalled stratovolcano having three summit craters. This text is an updated version of the page dedicated to nyiragongo on the gorisk website nyiragongo 3470 m a.
Estimates of the impact of nyiragongo volcano eruption on. The impacts of the 2002 nyiragongo eruption by elsie linley. A british plane carrying aid for the victims of the mount nyiragongo eruption in the democratic republic of congo has arrived in the region. Nyamuragira is a shield volcano whose eruptions, such as the one at the end of 2001, rarely cause loss of life. The 33 tonnes of watercleansing equipment and bedding provided by oxfam arrived in neighbouring rwanda on sunday and is being moved by road to refugee camps set up on the border. In 2002, the eruption of mount nyiragongo, in the democratic republic of the congo, caused devastation that could have been prevented. Congo, in the depression of the western branch of the east african rift. Nyiragongo volcano eruption destroyed the city of goma, congo. Bbc expedition volcano series 1 part 1 nyiragongo video. Jan 18, 2002 dozens of people are feared dead after a river of molten rock poured from a volcano in the democratic republic of congo. The 1977 eruption was preceded by the creation of a new small volcano, murara, a short distance away on the slopes of nyamuragira. Mount nyiragongo article about mount nyiragongo by the free.
Chemical analyses of lavas from the january 2002 and january 1977 nyiragongo eruptions. Facts about mount nyiragongo eruption active volcano congo. Nyiragongo 2002 this eruption involved the formation of a southward. According to a report by scientists from the volcano observatory in goma the same signs that preceded the 1977 and 2002 eruptions have been identified. A system of fractures opened up on the volcano and extended down to lake kivu.
The nearby city of goma was inundated by two lava flows, which caused substantial. As a less economically developed country ledc, the democratic republic of the congo was unprepared and less able to mount an effective response to the disaster. Results from recent seismic and ground deformation studies of the nyiragongo 2002 eruption are consistent with this 2chamber model shuler et al. Pdf january 2002 volcanotectonic eruption of nyiragongo. Mount nyiragongo s last eruption was in 2002 when the lava flow destroyed the nearby city center of goma capital of the east virunga province. It is located inside virunga national park, in the democratic republic of the congo, about 20 km 12 mi north of the town of goma and lake kivu and just west of the border with rwanda. The mount nyiragongo eruption in goma 3 executive summary on 21 january 2002, a donor alert was released in the aftermath of the nyiragongo lava flow disaster in goma. Jun 22, 2017 adventure awaits those willing to trek the democratic republic of congos volatile mount nyiragongo. For over a week before nyiragongo erupted, local people felt tremors and small earthquakes.
Jan 21, 2002 an eruption began at nyiragongo on 17 january 2002 with some lava flows and possibly their feeding fissure vents entering the city of goma 18 km s of the volcano, population 400,000 in the democratic republic of congo drc and threatening refugee camps figure 10. Lava flows ran across the town of goma 600,000 inhabitants, and ended up in lake kivu. Why is the nyiragongo volcano lava different from others. A fissure eruption began at nyiragongo volcano on 17th january 2002. Arguments for a risk assessment in light of the nyiragongo volcano eruption of 2002 article pdf available january 2004 with 252 reads. The 2002 eruption of nyiragongo volcano was the worlds most dramatic example of a lava flow through a major town. The shallow magma chamber is likely directly connected to the lava lake located in the main crater, explaining the persistence of the lava lake activity. At that time, the town of goma was in the hands of. Mount nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 3,470 m 11,380 ft in the virunga mountains associated with the albertine rift. Trekking to the crater rim starting at 1,989m6,525ft, reaching 3,470m11,380ft is about 56. Volcano nyiragongo, the eruption in 2002, an overview.
The 1977 eruption raised awareness of the unique dangers posed by nyiragongo, and because of this it was designated a decade volcano, worthy of particular study, in 1991. Nyiragongo eruption 1977hiking history nyiragongo volcano. Pdf how hazardous is the gas accumulation in lake kivu. Volcano causes widespread devastation in congo world. Mar 24, 2011 nyiragongo eruption congo goma eruptions volcano volcanic erupt pyroclastic waves vulcani eruptie vulcanica lava valuri piroclastice eruptie eruptii national geographic discovery science dramatic. Trekking to the crater rim starting at 1,989m6,525ft, reaching 3,470m11,380ft is. Goma served as an encampment for nearly a million refugees from the civil war in rwanda. On your african safari, private means private and custom. On 21 january 2002, a donor alert was released in the aftermath of the nyiragongo lava flow disaster in goma. Lava flow hazard at nyiragongo volcano, drc springerlink. Nyiragongo volcano and the volcanic observatory of goma, congo. We create highly personalized and memorable luxury african safaris for every individual traveler.
Mount nyiragongo in the democratic republic of congo the. The mountain was closed until march 2010 due to rebel activity in the area. Of eight volcanoes that straddle the borders of rwanda, congo, and uganda, mount nyiragongo is the most feared. Nyiragongo 3470m is an active volcano found in the democratic republic of the congo.
Nyiragongo s subcrater, the site of the 2002 eruption that devastated parts of the city of goma. Nyiragongo volcano eruption destroyed the city of goma. The ongoing eruption is a flank eruption with lava being extruded from 3 fissures in the southern flanks of the volcano, causing three flows that down stream join into a single main flow. The town of goma is 11 miles 18 km south of the summit of nyiragongo and on the shore of lake kivu. An eruption in 2002 covered the city of goma in nearly 2m of lava. Tens of thousands of people were made homeless and 400,000 people evacuated. Moreover, the 2002 nyiragongo lavas are similar to the leucitebearing nephelinite lavas produced during the 1977 eruption. It is considrered to have the largest permanent lava lake in the world. Analysis at crpg, cnrs, vandoeuvrelesnancy, france. Facts about mount nyiragongo eruption active volcano congo, mount nyiragongo in democratic republic of congo and the oldest national park of virunga national park it lies on the active volcano of mt nyiragongo that is open for touris and othe visitors for hikingclimbing and its still erupting upto now. Mount nyiragongo is a highly active volcano in the democratic republic of the congo.
Multiple lava flows entered the town of goma, 18 km south of the volcano. Causes of volcano nyiragongo eruption executive summary. This film, from twig world, looks at disaster response in less developed countries. Unfortunately, due to much political unrest in the area, nyiragongo is not as well studied by scientists as they would like. It is located in the western part of the virunga volcanic province north kivu, d. The virunga volcanoes are part of the east african rift which is the largest seismically active rift system on earth today. The extremely fluid 1977 lava flows caused many fatalities, as did lava flows that inundated portions of the major city of goma in january 2002. Its eruption in 2002 caused widespread devastation. Mount nyiragongo is an active stratovolcano with an elevation of 3,470 m in the virunga mountains associated with the albertine rift. In 2002, a stream of lava burst from the side of the volcano, swept through where we now. Nyiragongo is clearly marked, as is her sister, nyamuragira.
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