Toxic Gas Erupts from Lake Nyos (1986)

Lake Nyos is a deep lake located in the crater of an inactive volcano in Cameroon. A pocket of magma beneath the lake leaks carbon dioxide (CO2) into the water. In 1986, possibly as the result of a landslide, Lake Nyos suddenly emitted about 1.6 million tons of CO2. Denser than air, the CO2 cloud “hugged” the ground and descended down nearby valleys, suffocating approximately 1,700 people within 16 miles (25 km) of the lake. What methods are being used to prevent future disasters here? Discuss

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