December 3, 1912 Eruption of Nyamulagira
Nyamulagira in the Democratic Republic of the Congo erupted on December 3, 1912 with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. The eruption killed 20 people.
Where it erupted
Nyamulagira, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with its other significant eruptions.
The eruption
- Date
- December 3, 1912
- Volcano
- Nyamulagira, shield volcano
- Volcanic Explosivity Index
- 3, moderate to large (eruption column 3 to 15 km)
- Killed by
- Lava flows
- Location
- 1.408° S, 29.200° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 20
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
20 villagers were killed when a lava flow changed directions. (reference #9675)
Other significant eruptions of Nyamulagira
More
Every eruption in 1912The 1900sNyamulagiraEarthquakes near NyamulagiraThis day in weather history
Sources
Volcanoes and significant eruptions from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. Volcano numbers are the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program’s. NCEI event 34.