Mt Nyiragongo Flashcards
(30 cards)
Where is Mount Nyiragongo located?
In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, 20 km from the city of Goma.
What type of volcano is Mount Nyiragongo?
A composite volcano.
What plate boundary is it on?
A divergent boundary (African plate splitting into Nubian & Somali plates).
What is the nature of Nyiragongo’s lava?
Basaltic lava with low viscosity, meaning it flows very fast (up to 37 mph).
What is notable about the crater of Mount Nyiragongo?
It has a huge 2 km-wide crater with a lava lake.
How many homes were destroyed by the eruption?
12,500 homes.
What proportion of Goma was affected by lava?
15% of the city was covered in lava, and one-third was destroyed.
What impact did the eruption have on Goma airport?
80% of it became unusable due to lava.
How many people died, and what was the main cause?
Around 200 people, mostly from carbon monoxide poisoning.
How many people were evacuated?
400,000 people.
What happened to agriculture?
Lava destroyed crops and livestock, disrupting the food supply.
What essential service was disrupted?
The water supply.
What environmental impact damaged farmland?
Acid rain.
How many were left homeless and what was the result?
Over 120,000 people, causing overcrowded refugee camps.
What health crisis occurred in camps?
Cholera outbreaks due to poor sanitation.
What economic effect followed the eruption?
Loss of businesses and looting after mass evacuation.
How many people were evacuated?
400,000, although evacuation was delayed.
How many were trapped between lava flows?
Around 50,000 people.
What aid did the UN provide?
260 tonnes of food within a week.
What did Oxfam (UK) contribute?
£150,000 worth of water purification kits for 50,000 people.
What health intervention was done by WHO & MSF?
Vaccinated 28,000 children against measles.
What shelter was provided for the displaced?
Makeshift refugee camps were established.
How much aid was given globally?
$35 million in international aid.
What problem occurred with communication?
Poor communication caused people to return too early, walking across hot lava.
