A Deadly Cloud Rises
On the evening of August 21, 1986, Lake Nyos, a crater lake in northwest Cameroon, released a massive cloud of carbon dioxide. The gas, heavier than air, flowed silently and invisibly down into nearby valleys, spreading up to 25 kilometers away.
Villages Overwhelmed
Within minutes, the gas reached the villages of Nyos, Kam, and Cha, where it suffocated over 1,700 people and thousands of livestock. Survivors described a strange smell, dizziness, and then losing consciousness. Many awoke to find family members and neighbors dead.
Scientists Race to Understand
Scientists from around the world converged on the site to investigate. They determined that the lake had experienced a limnic eruption. The gas, accumulated over time in deep water, had been suddenly released by unknown forces, causing the disaster.
Ongoing Threat
The Cameroonian government and international experts later installed equipment to release gas from the lake gradually to prevent a similar disaster. The threat, however, remains, and monitoring continues to this day.
The Invisible Killer of Lake Nyos 😮💨
1/4: A Deadly Cloud Rises
On the evening of August 21, 1986, Lake Nyos, a crater lake in northwest Cameroon, released a massive cloud of carbon dioxide. The gas, heavier than air, flowed silently and invisibly down into nearby valleys,… pic.twitter.com/EuZ8IQ0Co0— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TBBOB2) September 17, 2024