Mt Nyiragongo case study

Question 1

When did the volcano erupt

Answer 1

17th January 2002

Question 2

where did it erupt

Answer 2

• south east Africa
• congo
• LIC

Question 3

give 3 reasons why it erupted

Answer 3

• formed above a hotspot
• a 13km fissure opened on the south flank
• lava exited from 3 points, 200m wide and 2m deep

Question 4

give 4 background information points

Answer 4

• 3500m high
• crater 2m wide containing a lava lake
• erupted 34 times since 1882
• 2 million people live around it

Question 5

give 3 risks/ vulnerabilities of Nyiragongo

Answer 5

• Goma is a fertile region
• population was vulnerable to co2 seeping from the ground of the volcano
• large amount of settlers due to altitude, long growing season and fertile soils

Question 6

give 3 responses to the eruption

Answer 6

• authorities issued a RED ALERT to Goma, to keep the death rate low
• educated children about volcanoes
• 2 days after, the UN sent humanitarian aid and £15 million to help regugees

Question 7

give 2 economic primary effects of the eruption

Answer 7

• people lost their jobs

- 15% of the 4500 buildings were destroyed

Question 8

give 3 social primary effects

Answer 8

• 400,000 people fled
• commercial town was destroyed with water supplies
• 350,000 people were dependant on aid

Question 9

how many people died

Answer 9

147

Question 10

give a economic secondary effect

Answer 10

aviation fuel stores exploded

Question 11

give 4 social secondary effects

Answer 11

• 120,000 homeless
• looting
• people returned 1 month later
• thousands required medical attention

Question 12

give 2 environmental secondary effects

Answer 12

• fear that a rise in temperature could realise toxic gases from lake kivu
• volcano is still active today and last erupted in 2013