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Jitters as experts check volcanic action in Ngorongoro
2006-04-17 09:29:20
By Asraji Mvungi, PST Arusha
Experts have moved in to investigate the increasing incidents of volcanic eruptions at Oldonyo Lengai Mountain in Ngorongoro in Arusha egion which has been sending shockwaves to the whole region.
Government and non-governmental-organisations are jointly investigating ”the increased eruption of volcano in the mountain’’.
Though the volcano at the mountain is live, and has been erupting frequently almost every year, the numbers of eruption and dimensions have been on the rise daily in recent months, Kandoro said.
He expressed fears that the increased dimensions of eruptions were a real threat which the government was concerned about.
After visiting the areas near the mountain, the RC said:
’’I have seen…for sure the eruptions this year are bigger than any other time. But we are lucky that nobody or animal has been affected as a result so far.’’
He said during eruptions ,residents of the area had to run away fearing for their safety.
”At the moment the situation is calm… life is almost back to normal,” he said, adding that still residents surrounding the mountain were jittery.
He said though the situation was calm, the government was taking all precautions incase of calamity.
’’We have shifted the residence of one of the elders here, whose house was too close to the mountain,’’ said the RC.
The RC refuted claims that hundred of families had been evacuated from the area due to volcanic eruption, save for one family, which was living near the mountain.
The issue of evacuating the residents would be considered depending on the experts’ investigations, he said.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) recently issued travel advisory, warning local tour operators not to take tourists near Mt Oldonyo Lengai, following two major volcanic eruptions last month.
However, sources say tourists continue to flock near the mountain, hoping to witness the volcanic eruption.
Late last month, a volcano erupted on Mt Oldonyo Lengai forcing over 3,000 inhabitants to flee from the area.
The eruption rocked the villages of Nayobi, Magadini, Engaruka, Malambo, Ngaresero, Gelai-bomba and Kitumbeine.
There was an exodus after the volcanic mountain rumbled into red-hot landslide, spewing scalding fumes and lava all over the neighbourhood.
The mountain which is shaped like a perfect cone with no trees is located outside the NCAA area and about 160 kms, west of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.
A major explosive eruption took place from January to about June 1917. Ash was deposited as much as 25 - 30 miles away, and killed the formerly luxuriant vegetation on the lower slopes of the mountain.
The flat lava platform was replaced by a deep summit crater. Another eruption may have occurred for several months in 1926.
Another unforgotten eruption was in 1940.The eruption was so heavy on the Salei plains, and the mountains to the west, that the grazing became inedible and the Masai of that part had to migrate.
Ol Doinyo Lengai is a unique and extremely fascinating volcano because it is the only volcano in the world that erupts natrocarbonatite lava, highly fluid lava that usually contains almost no silicon.
The mountain is less than 0.37 million (370,000) years old, and is the youngest volcano in the Rift Valley.
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