DefinePK

Abstract

This study establishes the impact of regional seismicity on the volcanic activities of an intra-plate and continental volcano Nyiragongo in the Virunga Region. The seismic activity in the East African Rifts is confined in the shallow zone and the focal mechanism of normal faulting type prevails widely in the Western Rift Valley. Nyiragongo volcano is characterized by two types of eruptions, one is a flank fissure eruption conducting to the formation of volcanic cones and another one is intra-crater eruption conducting to the formation of a crater lava lake. It is established that the Nyiragongo is presently in a very active stage, that the tectonic earthquakes occurring within the Western Rift at a certain distance, including those within the Virunga Region have a real impact on the volcanic activities of Nyiragongo. The knowledge of seismic activity in Western Rift should be an important tool for the surveillance of Nyiragongo volcano activities.