In 1986, Lake Nyos in Africa released over 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide in a sudden natural disaster known as a limnic eruption. The invisible gas cloud rolled through nearby villages, suffocating 1,700 people and 3,500 livestock in their sleep. The lake, sitting atop volcanic formations, had accumulated CO₂ deep underwater for years. When it was suddenly released, the heavier-than-air gas displaced oxygen across a 16-mile radius, leaving no chance of escape. Important Details: • Occurred in 1

On August 21, 1986, a catastrophic “Limnic Eruption” occurred at Lake Nyos in Cameroon. The lake, which sits inside a volcanic crater, had been quietly accumulating massive amounts of carbon dioxide at the bottom for centuries. That night, something triggered the gas to release—likely a landslide. The lake suddenly “burped,” expelling a massive cloud of CO2 estimated at 1.6 million tons. Being heavier than air, the gas cloud hugged the ground and flowed down the valley at 60 mph, displacing all