PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY - HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS
CASE STUDIES|2023-2024 UPDATE|NEW!!
Hazardous environments
1. For one hazardous environment that you have
... [Show More] studied, discuss the nature of
the hazard and evaluate the extent to which this has been successfully
managed. [20]
Nature of hazard (mount Nyiragongo):
● Two lava streams emerged from the volcano at a height of 1,800 metres
● One stream flowed east in the direction of Rwanda, while the other headed towards
Goma, stopping 300 metres from Goma International Airport
● Strong aftershocks were recorded in Rwanda on 26 May, including a magnitude 5.1
earthquake under Lake Kivu (Al Jazeera 25/05/2021). A magnitude 4.7 earthquake in
northeast Goma on the same day and fear of a second eruption triggered the
evacuation of the city ordered by local authorities
● The Mt. Nyiragongo volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo began erupting the
morning of Saturday, May 22, 2021, with fissures in the southern side of the volcano
sending lava pouring into nearby towns
● ash plumes rose to 6.1-9.1 km during 22-23 May
● It hosts a near-persistent lava lake, with large volumes of molten lava contained
within its volcanic crater
Successfully managed?:
● No warning because the World Bank had eliminated funding for the scientists
performing the observations in 2020
- according to the scientific director Celestin Kasareka Mahinda, shortage of
funding was the reason that made it difficult for the scientists at the Goma
Volcano Observatory to caution the public on the eruption
● Chaotic evacuation because the government did not have clear plans
- Following the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano on May 22, Congolese
authorities ordered the evacuation of 10 of Goma's 18 neighbourhoods
● organisations such as the UN Peacekeeping Mission MONUSCO helped manage the
situation by sending out police patrols for security purposes, fixing the roads that had
been damaged by the lava and supporting the citizens with food and water
● The CCCM working group has assessed multi sectoral needs of those returning to
Goma, and have helped shelter over 21,133 displaced people in 13 communal
buildings (11 schools and 2 churches)
- after the reopening of schools on 14 June households have to move outside
during the school day which is not ideal
2. ‘T [Show Less]