Monitoring a deadly volcano 科学家监控极其危险的尼拉贡戈火山_BBC

Monitoring a deadly volcano 科学家监控极其危险的尼拉贡戈火山

本集内容 Monitoring a deadly volcano 科学家监控极其危险的尼拉贡戈火山

学习要点有关“volcanoes 火山”的词汇

边看边答 What happened when the scientists’ warnings about the volcano were ignored?

Shrouded in mystery, it towers above eastern Congo. The Nyiragongo volcano is one of the most active and feared in the world. Smoke and clouds mingle at its peak hiding the threat within.

At nearly 3,500 metres above sea level, this volcano is difficult to access and predict. From the city of Goma below, a group of Congolese scientists keep a close watch looking for signs of danger.

Mahinda Celestin, Goma Volcano Observatory's Director

“The volcano is like a sick person. And we have to monitor. Every time...every time... every second."

Their warnings were ignored in 2002 when an eruption destroyed parts of the city. Ninety thousand people lost their homes and dozens of residents died. But today, some of the houses are built around the solidified lava and the local population is much more aware of the risks.

For now, there are no warning signs. And it's not just scientists summiting the volcano. Tourists are joining them. It takes seven hours of hard trekking to reach the top. But it's well worth the effort.

Set in the Unesco world heritage site of Virunga National Park, the Nyiragongo and its magnificent lava lake are attracting visitors from across the world. And with that, Goma’s biggest natural threat is giving back to the community living below..