Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano located in DR Congo within a rift zone tectonic setting on continental crust over 25 km thick. Standing at an elevation of 3,470 meters, the volcano has a confirmed record of 19 eruptions spanning from the 19th century CE through the 21st century CE, according to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program.
Historical Eruption Timeline and Distribution
The official record documents 19 confirmed eruptions for Nyiragongo. Eruptions are distributed across three centuries in the historical record:
- 19th century CE: 6 confirmed eruptions, beginning with the earliest recorded event on July 2, 1884, in the southern pit with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 1.0.
- 20th century CE: 11 confirmed eruptions, including activity along the north, south, and west flanks starting on January 10, 1977.
- 21st century CE: 2 confirmed eruptions, including an event starting on May 17, 2002, which reached a VEI of 2.0 and ended on March 17, 2026.
Across the entire recorded history, the largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is 2.0. A total of 18 eruptions have associated VEI observations.
Frequently asked questions
How many confirmed eruptions does Nyiragongo have?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program records 19 confirmed eruptions for Nyiragongo.
When did the earliest recorded eruption take place?
The earliest recorded eruption in the official record began on July 2, 1884.
What is the largest recorded VEI for Nyiragongo?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Nyiragongo is 2.0.
Image credits
- David Hospital — Wikimedia Commons source — CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.