Mt nyriagongo case study

Question 1

when and where did it happen?

Answer 1

January 17th 2002

mt nyriagongo congo

Question 2

was it an LIC or a HIC?

Answer 2

LIC

Question 3

why did the volcanic eruption occur?

Answer 3

months of increased earthquake and steam/gas eruptions
13km fissure opening on the south flank of the fissure
lava exited from 3 points on the fissure and moved into a stream 200 to 100m and up to 2m deep through goma

Question 4

what were the immediate responses to the eruption?

Answer 4

authorities issued a red alert
evacuation took place immediately
united nations brought in humanitarian aid
emergency rations and provision

Question 5

long term responses to the eruption?

Answer 5

set up an observatory in other countries to observe the volcano
educating children and locals about the volcano
using lava stones to help rebuild homes

Question 6

what is some background information about the volcano?

Answer 6

• 3470m high
• active stratavo volcano
• on great african rift valley
• has a crater 2km wide
• 250m deep lava lake
• found on a hotspot
• 2 million people live around the volcano

Question 7

what are the social primary impacts of the eruption?

Answer 7

• commercial centre of town as well as water and power supplies
• 2 of the cities 4 hospitals 3 out of 11 health centres and 80 out of 150 pharmacies were buried under 2m of lava
• death toll reached 147
• 4500 buildings destroyed

Question 8

what are the primary economic impacts of the eruption?

Answer 8

the lava covered the northern third of the runway at Goma airport

Question 9

what are the primary environmental impacts of the eruption?

Answer 9

Lava entered lake kivu poisioning the water which was a major source of drinking water

Question 10

what are the secondary social impacts of the eruption?

Answer 10

• 350,000 people dependent on aid
• several earthquakes accompanied the eruption one measured 5 on the rhictor scale
• 120,000 people homeless
• thousands of people required medical attention
• there was a vast amount of looting from abandoned homes
• 400,000 people fled the area

Question 11

what are the secondary economic impacts of the eruption?

Answer 11

aviation fuel stores exploded as the lava flow damaged goma airport

Question 12

what are the secondary environmental impacts of the eruption?

Answer 12

• it was a fear that the temp of lake kivu would rise and allow toxic gasses to be released from the lake bed - this did not happen
• the volcano is still active today and recently erupted in 2013