Increased Seismic Activity Recorded on Nyamuragira Volcano in DR Congo Near Gorilla Park

On February 27th, scientists at the Goma Volcano Observatory in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo indicated that seismic activity in the region was increasing "very fast". Mount Nyamuragira, they stated could erupt in a "matter of weeks, or even days".

The Observatory said its scientists were monitoring a potential eruption and were hoping "to prevent possible panic". Local authorities, UN agencies and NGOs were being kept informed.

Seismic stations at Luboga, Katale and Kunene were following the activity. The Observatory reported that spasmodic tremors had been observed on the 19th and the 23th of February with "a strong quake" located in the crater.

Mount Nyamuragira is one of eight volcanoes found on the borders of Rwanda, the DRC and Uganda. Dense with tropical montane forests, six of the volcanoes are home to the remaining population of highly endangered mountain gorillas. Fortunately, Nyamuragira is not one of them. The gorilla population stands at approximately 668.

Nyamuragira is a shield volcano - gently sloping in the shape of a flattened dome and built almost exclusively of lava flows. Since 1882, it has erupted over 40 times. Most of the eruptions produce lava flows from fissures on the flanks of the volcano. Only the 1912-1913 eruption caused fatalities. The most recent eruption of Nyamuragira was on July 26, 2002 and did not cause casualties, but destroyed dense tropical forest that is home to rich and varied wildlife.

The nearby Mount Nyiragongo, located only 9 miles (14 km) northwest of Nyamuragira, erupted on January 17, 2002, causing up to 350,000 people to flee the border town of Goma, where the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) office is located.