The Lake Nyos incident was a limnic eruption on August 21, 1986, in Cameroon, where a sudden release of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lake caused the deaths of over 1,700 people and thousands of livestock from asphyxiation. A massive cloud of the heavier-than-air gas descended from the lake into nearby villages, where people and animals were overcome. The incident occurred because CO2, originating from volcanic activity below the lake, had built up in the deep water and was suddenly released in a process called a limnic eruption.
What Happened Date: August 21, 1986. Location: Lake Nyos in Cameroon, West Africa. Cause: A large, sudden release of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas from the volcanic crater lake. Mechanism: The CO2 had been dissolved in the lake's deep water for a long time. A trigger, possibly a landslide or other disturbance, caused the CO2-saturated water to rapidly rise and release as a gas, leading to a limnic eruption.
Consequences Deaths: Approximately 1,700 people and thousands of livestock died from asphyxiation. The Gas Cloud: The CO2 cloud, being heavier than air, stayed close to the ground and moved into surrounding valleys and villages, where it suffocated people. Other Impacts: A significant loss of aquatic life and impact on the biodiversity of the lake also occurred.
Aftermath and Prevention Degassing System: To prevent a recurrence, a degassing system was installed in Lake Nyos in 2001, with additional tubes installed in 2011. This system siphons water from the bottom layers to the top, allowing the CO2 to release in controlled, safer amounts. Ongoing Threat: The natural wall of the lake is still weakening, and a geological tremor could potentially cause a breach, leading to another large release of gas and a flood of water into downstream villages.
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This is literally one of the most frightening things I can imagine experiencing. People all around you dropping dead for no apparent reason, and those who venture out to find out what's going on or to get help end up being directly exposed to the invisible threat and drop dead themselves. You want to help them so badly but you know that going out there would mean a death sentence for you as well
@Bexsy The tales from the survivors are heartbreaking. Some of them passed out and woke up only to find that their entire families, their entire community in some cases, had all perished. There were reports of stalled vehicles all along the roads of people who were trying to escape the cloud but couldn't make it. I remember one instance of a truck carrying about a dozen passengers getting stuck in the gas and one-by-one all the ones who descended from the truck to investigate or help ended up dying. Only the last two who remained atop the truck survived and they had to watch all of their friends suffocate without being able to help them lest they too succumb to the vapors
