What was unusual about the 1986 disaster around Lake Nyos in Cameroon?
A) A volcanic eruption involved a lateral blast of volcaniclastic debris that no one anticipated.
B) Pyroclastic flows buried surrounding villages, reminiscent of Pompeii 1,900 years earlier.
C) Volcanically derived carbon dioxide gas bubbled from the lake and suffocated people and animals nearby.
D) A slurry of lava and lake water flowed rapidly outward from the lake and buried surrounding villages.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The 1986 disaster at Lake Nyos in Cameroon was unusual because it involved a release of volcanically derived carbon dioxide gas that suffocated people and animals nearby. This type of disaster is known as a limnic eruption and is rare compared to other volcanic hazards like eruptions of ash and lava.

What Was Unusual About the 1986 Disaster Around Lake Nyos