The most recent volcanic disaster off of the mainland of West Africa caused the destruction of two villages, with 1,500 residents of Portela and Bengeira fleeing from the lava flows. The first eruption of Pico do Fogo was on Nov. 23, 2014, and after four days of quiet the outburst began again. By Dec. 9, lava flow had subsided.
West Africa’s most active volcano, named Fako or Mongo ma Ndemi, erupted in February 2012, emitting ash but causing little danger to the area.
In 2000, two eruptions occurred only miles apart, sending flowing lava dangerously close to the town of Buea.
Mount Cameroon is part of the Cameroon Volcanic Chain, where in 1986 a disaster occurred at Lake Nyos. Magma beneath the lake leaked carbon dioxide into the water, changing it into carbonic acid. Nearly a million tons of carbon dioxide spread across 16 miles of valley, suffocating and killing more than 1,700 people.
Africa’s most active volcano, which experiences an eruptive event every two years or so, last came alive on Nov. 6, 2011. Fountains of lava spewed upwards of 650 feet, while ash and smoke covered Virguna National Park. It was the volcano’s largest eruption in more than 100 years.
On June 12, 2011, a volcano in Eritrea’s Nabro region began spewing lava and ash over hundreds of miles, affecting the Afar state of neighboring Ethiopia the most. Several thousand people were displaced by the disaster, and over 31 casualties were reported. It was the first known recorded eruption of the volcano in human history.
A series of shield volcanoes — ones made from lava flows — Manda Hararo has experienced two major known eruptions. In August 2007, locals evacuated while lava violently spewed and flowed for three days, covering much of Ethiopia and Sudan with a sulfur dioxide plume. In July 2009, an even bigger eruption occurred near the 2007 site, although there was less of an immediate threat to the surroundings.
On Nov. 3, 2008, near the lava lake in the volcanic center of Alu-Dalafilla, an eruption occurred, subsiding and then ceasing five days later. Subsequent satellite images have shown that little has changed in the lava flow since November 2008.
At 7,750 feet, the peak of Karthala is the highest point of the Comoros Islands off the Eastern Africa coast. In April 2005, an eruption caused mass panic and a temporary exodus of more than 30,000 residents and tourists. A crater lake which had formed in the 1991 eruption was altered from the blast.
In May 2006, residents of the city of Moroni reported seeing lava flowing at the volcano’s top. Activity ceased soon after.
In January 2007, seismic activity and another eruption took place. Ash clouds were seem over the summit.
In May 2012, residents of the villages Mkazi and Mde reported seeing a fiery glow on the slopes. Since then, there has been no reported activity on the mountain.
On Sept. 26, 2005, a significant earthquake shook the Afar Triangle, a potent volcanic region that includes the Erta Ale volcano. Dabbahu’s only recorded eruption in history created a smoke cloud that covered the area for three days, as well a gigantic fissure now called the Dabbahu Fissure.
This stratovolcano (one built up of many layers of hardened magma, pumice, and ash) hosted a lava lake for nearly 100 years before the crater walls cracked in 1977 and lava flowed down the mountain, killing at least 70 people.
Then in 2002, a fissure opened at the south end of the volcano, spreading lava down into the city of Goma and covering most of the city’s airport. Collapsing buildings killed 147 people. About 15 percent of Goma was destroyed, leaving thousands of people homeless.
South Africa’s only active volcano in human history has been active for 18,000 years. Like Hawaii, it formed from two shield volcanoes that rose above the surface. The first eruption was recorded in 1980, largely unnoticed by the local population. The last recorded minor spurt was in 2009. The volcano is still active.
Located about 62 miles from Djibouti City, this fissure-vents volcano (lava spews out of linear vents) was dormant for nearly 3,000 years before erupting in November 1978 after an earthquake. Two lava flows took place and 25 fissures opened up.
In July 2007, earthquakes measuring up to 6.0 on the Richter scale shook Nairobi, thought to be the result of heavy magma flow through Tanzania’s Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano. On Sept. 4, Ol Doinyo Lengai erupted, covering 11 miles in ash.
Geologists who climbed the volcano Feb. 11, 2011 witnessed lava eruptions and steam emissions. Photos from an overflight in October 2007 showed two separate lava flows and a lava pool forming.
