Factbox: Comoros' Mount Karthala volcano - Comoros | ReliefWeb

Factbox: Comoros' Mount Karthala volcano Report from Reuters - Thomson Reuters Foundation Published on 29 May 2006 Here are five facts about the Mount Karthala volcano on the Indian Ocean archipelago of Comoros, which threatened further eruption as lava bubbled atop it on Monday: - One of the largest active volcanoes in the world, the 2,361-metre (7,746 feet) Mount Karthala and its thickly-forested slopes form much of the land mass of Grande Comore, the biggest island in the Comoros chain which lies 300 km (190 miles) off east Africa.

- Karthala has erupted every 11 years on average over the last two centuries, but it has not caused major destruction. Noxious fumes seeping from cracks suffocated 17 people in 1903 in its worst disaster on record. - Scientists at the Karthala observatory say that the volcano's crater, which is about 4 km (2.5 miles) wide, is the largest of any active volcano in the world. Vulcanologists describe Karthala as a basaltic shield volcano with broad, gentle slopes. - The volcano erupted twice in 2005, depositing ash on most of the island, forcing thousands to flee their homes and contaminating water supplies. An eruption in July 1991 hurled boulders for several km but caused no injuries. - Molten rock dribbling from the sides of the volcano destroyed some 300 houses in the village of Singani in April 1977, although locals managed to flee to safety. An 1860 lava flow from the summit travelled about 13 km (8 miles), reaching the western coast north of the capital Moroni. Reuters - Thomson Reuters Foundation:

For more humanitarian news and analysis, please visit www.trust.org/alertnet Primary country Comoros Primary disaster Comoros: Karthala Volcano - May 2006 Content format: News and Press Release Language: English Disaster type: Volcano