Cooperation on Congo volcanic and environmental risks

Abstract

On 17 January 2002, the Nyiragongo volcano (1.52°S, 29.25°E, 3469 meters above sea level), located about 18 kilometers north of Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, erupted, releasing a volume of 14–34 million cubic meters of lava. Lava flows originated from north‐south oriented fractures that rapidly developed along the southern flank of the volcano. Two lava flows divided the nearby city of Goma (∼500,000 people) into two parts, forcing a rapid exodus of the population into Rwanda. One of these lava flows ran into Lake Kivu, encroaching 60 meters below lake level with a submerged lava volume of 1 million cubic meters. About 15% of the town was directly affected, leaving approximately 120,000 people homeless. At least 170 people died as a direct consequence of the eruption.