Volcano · DR Congo
Nyiragongo
Home to one of the world's few long-lived lava lakes, above the city of Goma.
Status right now
No current reports
Nyiragongo is not in the latest Smithsonian weekly report or the GDACS volcano alerts. That usually means it is quiet, but not every change is reported straight away. For official alerts, follow the local volcano observatory.
Checked 5 Nov 2026, 00:33 UTC.
Key facts
- Country
- DR Congo
- Region
- Africa
- Type
- Stratovolcano
- Summit
- 3,470 m (11,385 ft)
- Coordinates
- 1.520° S, 29.250° E
- Smithsonian number
- 223030
What kind of volcano is it?
Nyiragongo is a stratovolcano. A stratovolcano is a tall, steep cone built from layers of lava, ash and rock from many eruptions. Its sticky magma traps gas, so eruptions are often explosive, with ash columns and fast-moving pyroclastic flows.
Eruption history
| Date | VEI | Deaths | Also |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 May 2021 | 2 | 32 | earthquake |
| 17 Jan 2002 | 1 | 100 | – |
| 21 Nov 1990 | – | 1 | – |
| 10 Jan 1977 | 1 | – | – |
| 28 Jan 1938 | 1 | – | tsunami |
| 3 Dec 1912 | 3 | 20 | – |
6 significant eruptions near Nyiragongo in NOAA's Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database, which lists eruptions that caused deaths, damage or a tsunami, or were VEI 6 or larger. VEI is the Volcanic Explosivity Index, from 0 to 8.
Nearby volcanoes
- NyamulagiraDR Congo · 14 km
- Ol Doinyo LengaiTanzania · 753 km
- KarthalaComoros · 1,929 km
- Erta AleEthiopia · 2,100 km
- Piton de la FournaiseFrance (Réunion) · 3,610 km
- SantoriniGreece · 4,236 km
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.