True Life Tuesday: Lake Nyos Disaster

This story is an example of the power of mother nature. It is scary what can happen in the natural world.

Lake Nyos is located in northwestern Cameroon. On August 21, 1986 the lake experienced a limnic explosion. A limnic explosion occurs when dissolved carbon dioxide erupts from deep lake waters. The explosion can cause a gas cloud that can lead to asphyxiation. Scientists are not exactly sure what causes the explosion but theorize that it could be a landslide or volcanic activity.

The Lake Nyos explosion ended up killing 1746 people and 3500 livestock. The blue water of the lake turned red due to the oxidation of the iron in the water from the deep lake that rose to the top. Scientists believe that the gas cloud was 160 feet thick and traveled at 12-31 miles per hour. Survivors would go on to develop respiratory problems, lesions and paralysis. 

Scientists undertook measures to de-gas the lake. The levels of carbon dioxide over the years have decreased and eventually in 2019 it was declared that the levels are now steady. There are only three lakes in the world known to be saturated with carbon dioxide which could cause a limnic explosion. Besides Lake Nyos the other lakes are Lake Monou also in Cameroon and Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.