Lake Nyos Limnic Eruption

Date: August 21, 1986 • Location: Boyo, Cameroon

A limnic eruption of Lake Nyos in Cameroon released a cloud of carbon dioxide, suffocating 1,746 people and 3,500 livestock.

A limnic eruption, also known as a lake overturn, is an extremely rare type of natural hazard in which dissolved carbon dioxide suddenly erupts from deep lake waters, forming a gas cloud capable of asphyxiating wildlife, livestock, and humans. Scientists believe that earthquakes, volcanic activity, and other explosive events can serve as triggers for limnic eruptions as the rising CO2 ejects water from the lake. Lakes in which such activity occurs are referred to as limnically active lakes or exploding lakes. Some features of limnically active lakes include:CO2-saturated incoming water, A cool lake bottom indicating an absence of direct volcanic heat in the lake waters, An upper and lower thermal layer with differing CO2 saturations, Proximity to areas with volcanic activity.