Earth & nature / DAY 30 OF 40
When a lake released its hidden gas.
The Lake Nyos disaster revealed a devastating geological hazard.
Here's the strange part.
On 21 August 1986, Lake Nyos in Cameroon released a deadly cloud of carbon dioxide, killing roughly 1,700 to 1,800 people. Gas had accumulated under pressure in the lake before the release. Investigators considered several possible triggers, but the trigger remained uncertain. This is a devastating geological hazard, not a story that needs exaggeration to matter. (Britannica)
The trigger remains uncertain. This disaster killed approximately 1,700–1,800 people; the earlier claim that nobody survived was incorrect.
REALITY CHECK · TRUE OR FALSE?
What can the evidence tell us?
The investigation conclusively established what triggered the gas release.
Go straight to the receipts.
Curious about the methods, dates or details? Open the original source and keep the caveat in view.
ORIGINAL SOURCEBritannicaOpen publication ↗NEXT IN THE 40-DAY TRAIL / DAY 31A star with serious compression issues. ↗