Mount Cameroon, Cameroon

Mount Cameroon is a poorly studied stratovolcano located in the nation of Cameroon, 180 miles west of the capital of Yaounde. This volcano is also known locally as Mount Faka and "Chariot of the Gods." It is one of Cameroon's main tourist attractions. Thousands of people participate in a race up its rocky slopes each year. It is the highest peak in West and Central Africa. Cameroon has erupted six times this century, most recently in the spring of 1999.

Eruptions generally occur on the flanks of the volcano and produce small cinder cones and lava flows. Cameroon was the site of one of the earliest recorded volcanic eruptions--in the 5th century BC--observed by a Cathaginian ship captain while sailing down the Atlantic Coast of Africa.

June 10, 1999

An increased volume of magma is pouring out of the Mount Cameroon Volcano. After a quiet period of six weeks, the volcano appears to be on the verge of another eruption.

May 4, 1999

MOUNT CAMEROON ERUPTION SUMMARY:
The 1999 Mt. Cameroon eruption (the sixth this century) that began on 28 March 1999 is now over. The principal vent at about 1,400 m elevation initially sent a voluminous 'a'a flow in a south-southwest direction through dense rainforests toward the village of Bakingili. This flow (alkalic basalt) eventually extended 6-7 km from its source vent and cut about 80 m of the important Limbe-Idenau road on 15 April. By this time, the 10-12 m thick 'a'a flow was very sluggish and ceased all forward movement on 17 April, about 200 m from the Atlantic Coast. The last glow from the 1,400 m vent was seen on 14 April, and lava production probably ended about this time. A new road has been built along the distal end of the flow to restore normal traffic along the coastal road. As of late April, about 400 evacuees from Bakingili were still being housed in a nearby refugee camp, but were expected to be allowed to return to their homes shortly.

April 13, 1999

The lava flows from Cameroon have missed the villages of Bakinguili and Batoke and are on their way to the sea. The air and local drinking water remains contaminated from recent eruptive activity, however. Over 1,000 people from these villages had to be evacuated due to the advancing flows.

April 10, 1999

A lava flow 1.3 miles (2 km) wide and 100 feet (30 m) thick has burned virgin rain forests and small farms on its way to the sea. The flow is now just a few hundred yards from the villages of Bakingele and Batoke. Authorities have issued new orders to evacuate these communities, as many of the local residents have ignored past warnings and remained in their homes. Soldiers and doctors have been sent to the area, and air and sea evacuation teams are on standby. About 500 evacuees will be taken to a camp at an abandoned airport in Tiko, 20 miles (30 km) to the east. At least 1,000 people have already fled since the volcano began erupting two weeks ago. Gas and ash emissions have blackened the air around the volcano and polluted drinking water for about 2,600 people living in the area.

April 5, 1999

Evacuation plans are being drawn up and gas masks are being distributed to the residents of three villages on the flanks of Mount Cameroon. Continued eruptions have led to the advance of lava flows towards Idenau, Batoke, and Bakingili. Lava flows may reach these villages within the next few days. Eruptions over the weekend increased the number of fissures feeding the flows from nine to 12. Over 100 homes have already been damaged or destroyed by volcanic tremors during the current eruption.

March 29, 1999

Violent quakes and lava flows forced the evacuation of many villagers in Cameroon on March 29. Several homes have been destroyed by the lava flows, but no casualties have yet been reported. Lava began flowing down the southern slopes of the volcano towards the villages of Edenau and Bakingele on March 28. Another lava flow is moving towards a state-owned oil refinery on the outskirts of the resort town of Limbe. Several thousand residents are believed to be living in the danger zone.