edoyad:

Pix of the eruption from mount otupko.

[size=14pt]Possible eruption from the Oku Volcanic Field in Cameroon[/size]

Erik Klemetti on November 6, 2010, 11:59 AM
There are a couple brief articles that an eruption has occurred near the border region of Cameroon and Nigeria - in the state of Benue, which is midway along of the eastern border of the two countries. The report claims that "vibrations on the earth overwhelmed the area" and that then there was a "a sudden eruption from six points on the mountainous terrain", which then "lava from the mountain cover[ed] wells, streams, trees and houses in the area". People in the vicinity had to flee, but one person died in the "eruption" and many buildings were damaged. Also, water supplies were contaminated by the lava - although the report says that it was "polluted by the heavy magma," which feels like a missed translation. Overall, this sounds like a basaltic lava flow or flows that came from previously unidentified vents - and the fact it was described as "six points" makes me think it could be a fissue eruption.

Figuring out exactly was is erupting is a little perplexing. First, there aren't any known active volcanoes in Nigeria near the state of Benue. Beyond the idea that the report if false or the location is wrong, we can look at a map of the known active volcanoes in neighboring Cameroon. The best suspect is the Oku Volcanic Field, which is a field of cinder cones and maars near the border with Nigeria, but in Cameroon. The field is part of a large Mt. Oku, which is a stratovolcano that is now cut by a caldera. There are no historical eruptions of the field, but it does host volcanic lakes like Lake Nyos and Monoun, both of which had catastrophic carbon dioxide releases in 1986 and 1984, respectively. These releases may have been a product of phreatic explosions that overturned the lake waters, but this has never been confirmed. If this eruption is, in fact, from the Oku Volcanic Field, it will be the first subaereal eruption there on record.

Eretare:

This story is not credible. In what world does Benue state share a border with Cameroon.
Some journalists are just plain dumb.

Beaf:

[size=14pt]Volcanic eruptions in Benue[/size]
• 1 killed, property destroyed
From ROSE EJEMBI, Makurdi
Saturday, November 6, 2010

Tragedy struck yesterday in Mkomon District, Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State, a border community to Cameroun, when volcanic eruptions on a mountain claimed the life of one person as well as destroyed property worth millions of naira.

Saturday Sun gathered that the tragedy occurred while residents of the community were attending the annual thanksgiving service of the local church. Terzungwer Iorhemen, a member of the community, told our correspondent that midway into the thanksgiving service, vibrations on the earth overwhelmed the area, located at the Cameroun boundary.

“While the thanksgiving service was going on, we suddenly noticed heavy vibrations in the mountain bordering the area with Cameroun Republic, which was followed by a sudden eruption from six points on the mountainous terrain,” he said.
He disclosed that the vibrations were followed by the eruption of lava from the mountain covering wells, streams, trees and houses in the area, leaving residents with no other option than to flee for their lives.

While people were scampering for safety, due to the effect of the vibrations and the lava eruption, it was gathered that a young boy, who wanted to have a feel of the lava, was killed. Villagers tried effortlessly to save the boy, but failed.
Sources said that many villagers of the Mkomon district are still on the run for fear of further volcanic emissions from the mountain.

Residents of the affected community have deserted their homes, as sources of potable water have been polluted by the heavy magma emitted from the eruption.
Saturday Sun gathered that the accident has been reported to the paramount ruler of the community, the Ter Kwande, Chief James Atzape and the local government council leadership, just as desperate moves were being made to evacuate the affected inhabitants to safety.
Attempts to reach the local government council chairman on phone for comments proved abortive. When our reporter called at the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, executive secretary of the agency, Adikpo Agbatse, was said to have led other officials

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/nov/06/national-06-11-2010-001.htm

Haven't you heard they were also responsible for the haiti earthquakes. No jokes. All the "facts" are here on nairaland.


Hopefully, you understand sarcasm.

amor4ce:

For those whose feet are too quick to spread doubt, see
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?cid=28428

And for those criticizing the picture on the Sun newspaper, my guess is that it was probably put there to give unfamiliar readers an idea of what such volcanic activities may look like. Also, earth tremors were felt sometime in the eighties and somewhere in the southwestern region of Nigeria.

There is no need to condemn the journalists. Besides, we do not know how accessible the affected region is by land; neither do I know of any media house that gets its own aerial photographs. We also do not know about the standard of living and lifestyles over there and as such ought to refrain from making assumptions that a lot of the inhabitants should have mobile phones and mobile phones with cameras for that matter.

Just think of this, which telecommunications company would want to set up masts in mountainous areas with a population that might be viewed as not much to be commercially viable? Please note that I am assuming that the volcanic activity, if true, occurred in a mountainous region.
Another point is that a combination of 'difficult' terrain and inadequate telecommunications coverage can stand in the way of journalists' timely access to the site and their feedback to their respective media houses. Those of us reading this and who followed the 1999 and 2007 elections should try to remember how long it took for election results to be collated from certain areas due to similar factors.

All I am saying is that we should avoid making assumptions so as to avoid judging blindly and foolishly. Time will tell whether or not this volcanic eruption story is true or not.

The link wey that bros put:
A volcanic eruption has occurred at the mountainous Mkomon district of Kwande Local government of Benue State with one person feared dead while properties worth millions of Naira have also been destroyed. Residents of the affected community have deserted their homes in search of safer place. Sources of portable water have been polluted by the heavy magma emitted from the eruption. Vanguard gathered from eye witnesses that there were heavy vibrations around the mountains at the border with Cameroun Republic, followed by eruptions at six points on the mountainous terrain. The vibrations spewed magma which covered streams and hand dug wells and the entire community leaving the people without portable water. At the moment, there is panic amongst the people who are said to be cut off completely from the rest of the world as a result of the occurrence and damages to roads and bridges which was occasioned by the heavy vibration.

[The volcano is unknow. This report is very troublesome (if this is true), becouse the report said: "followed by eruptions at six points on the mountainous terrain." We need more information, etc: crater width, eruption points, coordinate. So, we please to you, that this report use with incredulity. RSOE EDIS]

moremi2008:

There has been a Tsunami in a remote part of Lagos!!!! Thousands feared dead!!!!


Nigerians will believe anything!

invisible!:

its true, they said it washed many cars and buses with passengers into the ocean. This is a real tragedy. We need to go out and help those affected.