Recently in my Geography lessons we have started learning about Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions, we’ve looked at a number of Volcanoes, such as Mount St Helens and Mount Nyiragongo.

But for now I am going to focus on telling you about Mount Nyiragongo, because that’s the Volcano I learnt about today. Mount Nyiragongo is placed on the African Rift Valley – Central Africa and is placed on a Constructive plate Boundary, which has been active for many years before the 2002 eruption, scientists say there has been at least 34 eruptions since the late 19th Century. But because of this particular eruption on January 17th 2002, Mount Nyiragongo caused devastation across the City of Goma – Democratic Republic of Congo, a country already suffering from poverty (LEDC).

This caused rivers of molten lava, travelling at 40mph down the mountain towards the helpless locals, which was 1000 metres wide, and flowed 20km into the city of Goma. This destroyed 40% of the city, causing the residents to flee to Rwanda, to search for refugee camps. Before hand 400,000 people were evacuated due to warnings, but 100,000 were left behind, which caused over 100 citizens to die – mostly from poisonous gas and getting overcome by a river of molten lava. The lava triggered a number of Earthquakes, which then destroyed many more homes, in the end 14 villages (equivalent too 12,500 homes) were destroyed.

This put a massive strain on More Economically Developed Countries (MEDC’s) to help Goma and surrounding areas out with aspects like money, and health care, due to so little health care and resources even before the eruption. After a number of months, the Worlds governments had raised $35 million to help the many sufferers out. Also the United Nations sent in 260 tonnes of food, to help refugees and people who had nothing, and had lost their homes and loved ones.

All of this could have been a lot less destructive; if the Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDC’s) had a lot more knowledge on volcanoes, and the whole Geology side of Geography. This could have also helped predicting this Volcano a lot earlier and may make the communications between other countries better. Unfortunately they do not have the resources to do so, especially the money.

I hope by reading this it has raised a lot more Awareness towards Volcanic Eruptions.


Sian Crew.