Human consequences
Entire villages die in their sleep; thousands of survivors flee the area.
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VolcanoLake Nyos disaster
1,746Deaths
Not quantifiedDisplaced / homeless
Not quantifiedEstimated cost
- 1,746 deaths by asphyxiation in nearby villages.
This volcanic crater lake suddenly releases a huge cloud of carbon dioxide built up in its depths. Heavier than air, the gas flows down the valleys and suffocates everything in its path: a “limnic eruption”.
Consequences
Environmental consequences
About 3,500 cattle die; the lake’s waters turn red.
Economic consequences
Villages and pastures around the lake are abandoned for years.
Political consequences
Degassing pipes, installed from 2001, now continuously vent CO₂ from the lake.
Further reading
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In the rankings : The deadliest volcanic eruptions No. 7
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