1986 Lake Nyos disaster

A limnic eruption at Lake Nyos in northwestern Cameroon on 21 August released roughly 1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide from the crater lake, which sits atop a volcanic vent. For about 23 kilometres the gas cloud stayed concentrated enough to suffocate many people in their sleep in the villages of Nyos, Kam, Cha and Subum, after a busy market day in Lower Nyos had sent most to bed early. The recorded toll is 1,746 people and 3,500 livestock, with one account giving over 1,700 human deaths.

Date and time (UTC)

1986-08-21

Highest recorded water height (m)

75

Cause, as the catalogue records it

volcano

Deaths, as sources state them

1,746 (one account gives over 1,700); 3,500 livestock

NCEI event page

www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/tsunami/event-more-info/5808

Category: Disasters & Incidents

Tags: limnic eruption, volcano, crater lake, cameroon, carbon dioxide

Coordinates: 6.25, 10.5

Part of Tsunamis with waves of 15 metres or more from 1950 to 1999

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