Summary:
- In 1986, a natural disaster occurred at Lake Nyos in Cameroon, Africa, where a large amount of carbon dioxide gas suddenly erupted from the lake, causing a deadly cloud that killed over 1,700 people in nearby villages overnight.
- The gas cloud was caused by a limnic eruption, a rare event where a deep lake releases a large amount of dissolved gas, usually carbon dioxide, which then forms a dense, deadly cloud that flows down into nearby areas.
- Scientists believe that the gas buildup in Lake Nyos was caused by volcanic activity deep beneath the lake, and they have since worked to prevent future eruptions by installing degassing pipes to slowly release the gas and make the lake safer for the surrounding communities.