What kind of volcano is Nyamulagira?

Nyamulagira is classified as a Shield volcano in DR Congo. Its tectonic setting is Rift zone / Continental crust (> 25 km).

How is seismicity near Nyamulagira monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

Volcano Dossier•GVP #223020

1.41°S, 29.20°E

Erupted since 2000

Volcano Nyamulagira

Often described as Africa's most active volcano, a near neighbour of Nyiragongo in the Virunga Mountains of the DR Congo. It erupts every few years, usually from flank fissures that send lava flows into Virunga National Park, and its gas plume affects air quality across the region.

Last eruption

2026

Erupted since 2000

Summit

3.1 km

Shield volcano · Trachybasalt

Activity

Normal Baseline

0 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Recent seismicity within 50 km

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

No catalogued earthquakes within 50 km in the last 90 days.

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Shield volcano

Nyamulagira is an active Shield volcano formed in an active Rift zone / Continental crust (> 25 km). Dominant lithology: Trachybasalt.

Edifice TypeShield volcano

Major rockTrachybasalt

TectonicsRift zone

Volcanic ArcAlbertine Rift Volcanic Province

Volcano Dossier

VN #223020

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryDR Congo

Crater Coordinates-1.408°, 29.200°

Summit3.1 km

SubregionAlbertine Rift Volcanic Province

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#223020)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →

Seismic ObservatoryOVG / GEOFON

Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma (OVG) / GEOFON

Official Portal

ICAO Aviation Ash Center

Toulouse VAAC (Météo-France)

Toulouse, France

VAAC Advisory Desk

Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Nyamulagira recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2026.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile