Nyiragongo, an active stratovolcano located within the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, stands as one of Africa’s most prominent and dangerous volcanoes. Its large, persistent lava lake is a unique characteristic, posing a significant hazard due to its potential for sudden drainage and the emission of toxic gases. Nyiragongo has a history of destructive eruptions, including the devastating events in 1977 and 2002, which displaced populations and dramatically reshaped the surrounding landscape.
| Location: | Virunga, DRC |
| Coordinates: | -1.521338, 29.247704 |
| Volcano Type: | Stratovolcano |
Mount Nyiragongo’s Location
Mount Nyiragongo’s Latest Status
2026: Active. Persistent internal lava lake activity.
Mount Nyiragongo’s Eruptive History
| 1970’s | Lava lake active, effusive eruptions from within the crater. In 1977 a flank eruption occurred (on the SE flank). Post this, the lava lake drained completely. |
| 1982 | Fire fountaining created a new lava lake. |
| 1994 | After draining again, the lava lake became active again. |
| 2002 | January – At 5am, Nyiragongo erupted. Three separate lava flows moved down the E, W and S flanks. These flows reached Goma and into Lake Kivu. A substantial ash plume was generated also. 245 people died. |
| 2020 | The lava lake persists. A small eruptive cone within the crater remains active. |
| 2021 | May – Flank eruption and lava flows. A highway to Beni has been cut off by lava. The summit lava lake has drained, similar to events that happened on Ambrym. |
| 2023 | The lava lake remains active. Seismicity is low. |
| 2024 | Thermal anomalies increase + satellite images show an ever increasing lava lake. |
| 2025 | Nyiragongo remained at a Yellow Alert Level, characterised by persistent internal lava lake activity. |
Mount Nyiragongo Monitoring
For monitoring of this volcano, please refer to the Goma Volcano Observatory.
Mount Nyiragongo Images
