Gigi Lee

Secondary One

History-Geography Integrated Assignment

Geography Component (Term 1) 2010

17 January 2002, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mount Nyiragongo erupted. The volcano was situated on the southern sector of the Virunga National Park and is one of the western Virunga Volcanoes which are still active and erupt regularly.

Volcanism at Nyiragongo is caused by the rifting of the Earth's crust where two parts of the African Plate breaking apart. Its location has experienced active volcanism for a long period of time, it is probably also partly responsible for the great activity at Nyiragongo. Most lava flow at a rather slow rate, and rarely pose danger to human life but Nyiragongo‘s lava can flow downhill as fast as 60 miles per hour (100 km/h).

Swathes of magma up to 165 feet (50 meters) wide oozed down streets of Goma, burning everything in their wake and finally pouring into Lake Kivu, contaminating the water with poisonous ash. The volcano ruined 40 percent of the town. It also sent an estimated 350,000 people fleeing across the border into Rwanda. It was also estimated that more than 100 people died and about 350,000 lost their homes and property. At least 16,000 homes were destroyed. The board of global ministries worked to provide 60,000 people affected by the eruption with water and sanitation, food, blankets, kitchen sets, plastic sheeting, and firewood. Even feeding centres established and special attention will be given to children and elderly people. To reduce the amount of damage from these types of disasters, I think that each family should have a family emergency kit, have disposable breathing masks and goggles for each family member. So when the volcano erupts the whole family will be able to breathe despite the ash, so that they won’t suffocate and die.