IRIS Special Report

Nyiragongo Volcano
Democratic Republic of Congo

1.52 S, 29.25 E
summit elevation 3469 m
stratovolcano


(U.S. Geological Survey photo by Jack Lockwood)
Friday 25th January, 2002
US Agency for International Development Report.
Total Affected: Approximately 350,000 (U.N.)
Deaths: Approximately 147 (U.N. and USAID/OFDA field reports)
Displaced People: Approximately 250,000 (USAID/OFDA field reports)
A survey by relief agencies determined that there were approximately 229,000 people in Goma on January 23. Approximately one-third of the group moved west in DRC toward Sake. Approximately two-thirds moved east to Gisenyi in Rwanda.
Nyiragongo is one of Africa's most notable volcanoes. A previous lava lake in the deep summit crater of Nyiragongo, first reported by G.A. Von Gotzen on 11 June 1894, drained suddenly through radial fissures on 10 January 1977, killing about 70 people. Lava lake activity resumed at Nyiragongo in June 1982, but had ceased by early 1983. The lava lake at Nyiragongo was again activated after an eruption that began in June 1994.(GVP). Nyiragongo will continue to hold fascination for volcanologists. (From www.volcanolive.com, Copyright John Seach)
Images
Goma lies in area prone to volcanic activityfault map

map
Map from the USGS

map
Map of seismicity of the region from 1990 to present

dry lava
The World Health Organization's compound in Goma
AP photo From CNN site

lava flow

Lava flows through the streets of Goma
AP photo From CNN site

dry lava

A burned house seen in the middle of lava poured from Nyiragongo volcano in Goma town in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Reuters

lava flow

A house is covered in lava in Goma
AP photo From CNN site

African Rift
East Aftican Rift
Focal Mechanisms
Focal Mechanisms
 
Seismic Reports

The region near the volcano is currently experiencing a great deal of seismic activity. We will post data as soon as it becomes available.


Event recorded by station KMBO in Kilima Mbogo, Kenya

(data available via BUD)

Map of seismicity of the region from 1990 to present

CNSS composite earthquake catalog:

  • catalog=CNSS
  • start_time=1990/01/01,00:00:00
  • end_time=2002/01/24,19:00:16
  • minimum_latitude=-4.0
  • maximum_latitude=0.0
  • minimum_longitude=27
  • maximum_longitude=32
  • minimum_magnitude=1.0
  • maximum_magnitude=10
  • event_type=E
Date       Time             Lat       Lon  Depth   Mag Magt  Nst Gap  Clo  RMS  SRC   Event ID
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1990/09/04 01:48:00.76  -0.4790   29.0850  10.00  5.00   Mb  117          1.13  NEI 199009044001
1990/12/20 18:37:44.19  -0.3180   29.4600  33.00  4.50   Mb   10          0.99  NEI 199012204032
1991/02/24 19:31:53.14  -1.6800   28.7720  10.00  4.60   Mb   28          1.05  NEI 199102244035
1991/10/08 18:51:20.12  -2.0400   27.4460  10.00  4.80   Mb    8          1.37  NEI 199110084028
1992/03/01 11:15:12.40  -2.2390   29.1440  10.00  4.90   un   23          1.06  NEI 199203014017
1993/01/24 16:43:06.66  -2.1640   27.5550  10.00  4.60   un   25          1.22  NEI 199301244029
1993/08/11 17:11:34.72  -3.5270   29.3600  21.20  4.80   Mb   54          0.72  NEI 199308114071
1993/09/28 22:30:49.77  -2.5260   28.6020  10.00  4.90   Mb   41          1.49  NEI 199309284045
1994/03/09 08:25:05.58  -1.8030   29.7950  33.00  4.80   Mb   24          0.76  NEI 199403094015
1995/04/29 11:50:52.56  -1.3150   28.6050  10.00  5.10   Mb  138          1.22  NEI 199504294028
1996/02/09 00:23:08.23  -0.1010   29.7490  10.00  3.90   Mb    5          0.39  NEI 199602094002
1997/02/11 07:38:37.91  -2.7230   29.1120  10.00  4.70   Mb   11          1.17  NEI 199702111019
1997/05/14 21:14:40.88  -3.9130   28.6810  10.00  4.40   Mb   36          0.86  NEI 199705141049
1997/11/11 22:42:51.81  -2.7270   28.9120  10.00  4.70   Mb    9          1.11  NEI 199711111058
1998/08/29 04:49:56.49  -2.0130   27.5930  10.00  4.50   Mb   22          1.04  NEI 199808291008
1998/10/04 08:38:09.54  -0.9550   27.9230  10.00  4.60   Mb   54          0.73  NEI 199810041018
1998/10/14 15:46:21.10  -0.1800   27.3150  10.00  4.50   Mb   32          0.93  NEI 199810141030
1999/03/30 11:43:51.49  -1.1770   27.5800  10.00  4.60   Mb   10          0.67  NEI 199903301029
2000/03/02 02:44:51.71  -2.5820   27.8260  10.00  5.40   Mb  115          0.87  NEI 200003024004
2000/03/02 04:29:48.56  -2.3710   28.0260  10.00  5.00   Mb   69          0.87  NEI 200003024010
2000/03/03 05:03:20.22  -2.4320   28.0120  10.00  4.90   Mb   92          0.91  NEI 200003034008
2000/09/12 16:51:17.53  -2.2650   28.7390  10.00  4.60   Mb   44          1.01  NEI 200009124058
2000/10/05 10:08:24.02  -1.1520   28.7100  10.00  4.50   Mb    6          0.85  NEI 200010054017
2000/10/26 18:20:37.45  -1.1420   27.9380  10.00  4.40   Mb   29          1.10  NEI 200010264043
2002/01/04 13:02:18.85  -0.1600   29.8400  10.00  4.80   Mb   32          0.84  NEI 200201041010
2002/01/17 11:44:43.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.60   l     1          0.00  NEI 200201170003
2002/01/17 13:52:20.76  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  4.00   l     5          0.00  NEI 200201170004
2002/01/17 13:59:19.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.50   l     1          0.00  NEI 200201170005
2002/01/17 14:16:10.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  4.20   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201170006
2002/01/17 14:26:59.72  -1.6290   29.1520  10.00  4.30   Mb    7          1.37  NEI 200201170007
2002/01/17 15:43:44.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  4.50   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201170010
2002/01/17 18:18:23.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.90   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201170011
2002/01/17 18:30:38.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.60   l     2          0.00  NEI 200201170012
2002/01/17 18:47:47.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.60   l     1          0.00  NEI 200201170014
2002/01/17 18:59:31.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.60   l     1          0.00  SEP 200201170015
2002/01/17 20:01:29.15  -1.7490   29.0740  15.40  4.80   Mb   12          1.20  NEI 200201170016
2002/01/17 21:02:03.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.50   l     1          0.00  NEI 200201170018
2002/01/17 22:18:30.42  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.60   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201170019
2002/01/17 22:24:49.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.70   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201170020
2002/01/17 22:28:05.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  4.20   Mb    4          0.00  NEI 200201170021
2002/01/17 22:58:12.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.50   l     2          0.00  NEI 200201170022
2002/01/18 01:37:15.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.50   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201180001
2002/01/18 02:02:52.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.90   l     2          0.00  NEI 200201180002
2002/01/18 05:55:11.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.60   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201180005
2002/01/18 06:48:20.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.50   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201180007
2002/01/18 08:07:57.88  -1.5270   28.9990  10.00  4.20   Mb    4          0.00  NEI 200201180009
2002/01/18 09:17:34.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.60   l     2          0.00  NEI 200201180010
2002/01/18 13:23:06.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.70   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201180013
2002/01/18 13:43:00.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.70   l     2          0.00  NEI 200201180014
2002/01/18 13:51:02.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.50   l     2          0.00  NEI 200201180015
2002/01/18 14:02:10.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.50   l     2          0.00  NEI 200201180016
2002/01/18 15:14:01.81  -1.7330   29.0310  10.00  4.20   Mb    5          1.80  NEI 200201180018
2002/01/18 15:41:29.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  4.20   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201180019
2002/01/18 16:13:53.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.90   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201180020
2002/01/18 20:59:41.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  4.50   l     3          0.00  NEI 200201180021
2002/01/18 21:08:56.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  4.20   Mb    5          0.00  NEI 200201180022
2002/01/19 04:26:20.00  -1.7000   29.0000  10.00  3.90   Mb    4          0.48  NEI 200201190001
2002/01/20 00:14:44.43  -1.7610   29.0520  10.00  5.00   Mb   16          0.88  NEI 200201200001
2002/01/21 04:39:21.45  -1.8440   29.0020  10.00  4.70   Mb   10          1.12  NEI 200201210001

Map of the Nyiragongo area showing A-type (tectonic) earthquakes, November-December 1994. Events cluster along a NNW-SSE strike at depths of ~15 km. Crosses mark locations of telemetering seismic stations, and solid circles indicate major refugee camps. Modified from Hamaguchi and others (1995). (From Volcanic Activity Reports, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History)

Links

Volcano Live, Volcano News and Information

Africa Volcanoes and Volcanics, USGS

Current Seismicity for Africa, USGS

Natural Hazards report, NASA

CNN.com - site includes videos and slide show

CBC News

Reports from Volcano List Server (ASU)

Geology of the East African mountains, Encyclopædia Britannica Online