Plate Tectonics- Vulcanicity Case Study

Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2002

Location

• Mount Nyiragongo is about 20 km north of the town of Goma and Lake Kivu and just west of the border with Rwanda
• Located in the African Rift Valley, where the crust is very brittle along fault the line 
• Mount Nyiragongo’s main crater is 2 km wide and 250m and usually contains a lava lake. 

Causes

• Mt. Nyiragongo’s lava its high temperature, basaltic lava, which is very fluid and is known for running down at speeds greater than 90km/h, which makes it extremely hazardous. 
• Prior to the January 2002 eruption there had been some seismic activity in the area, but the eruption was unexpected. 

Size of eruption

• Fairly small eruption 2-4 VEI the impact was much greater because of the political history between DRC and Rwanda 

Short term effects

• The lava destroyed many homes as well as roads and water pipes, set off explosions in fuel stores and power plants.
• Commercial centre of town destroyed, three healthcare centres and one hospital.
• People walked over the lava to escape Goma, by tying strips of cloth over their feet to protect them from burning. However there were horrific burns to limbs.
• Over 1/3 of Goma destroyed.
• Water and power supplies and many of the medical facilities including three health centres and one hospital as well as lava covering the northern third of the airport runway. 
• 147 people were killed 
• Over 350,000 people fled the area. 

Long term effects

• Those who did flee to Rwanda found that there was a problem with food and shelter provision in the small country there was also the worry of cholera and diarrhoea due to cramped conditions.
• There was also limited drinking water; this meant that many people suffered from dysentery.
• Medical supplies were limited because of the effects of smoke and fumes from the lava which caused eye irritation and respiratory problems as well as burn treatment for those who had crossed the lava. 
• 220,000 homeless refugees crossed into Rwanda 
• Lots of refugees returned to Goma because there was little food and poor shelter in
  Rwanda, so they thought they might have a better chance at returning home.
• Goma had been a tourist resort with hotels overlooking the lake. It suffered an economic downturn for the next 2-3 years as the tourist trade collapsed with few visitors.

Environmental:

• Sulphurous lava entered Lake Kivu polluting the lake- a major source of drinking water in the area 
• It also caused methane gas to be released from the lake – which suffocated many people who were camped on the banks of the lake.

Responses

• Warnings of the lava flows were given and allowed most people to flee their homes. 
• Aid agencies have given bedding, equipment to provide clean water for drinking and sanitation, blankets, tents, food, and cooking utensils 
• UN humanitarian aid 
• Aid was also given in the form of blankets, household utensils, temporary shelter, clean water, sanitation and healthcare which cost the UN over $15 million 
• Rebuilding Goma was much greater and there was high unemployment in the area as many businesses had been destroyed in the lava flows