SafariLands.org: Events: Thousands flee from ‘Mountain of God’

Slopes of Oldonyo Lengai after recent eruption

The activity at Lengai seems to be increasing. In the past two weeks, explosions have ejected ash plumes rising several kilometers. On 15 Feb., Dutch pilots observed and photographed an eruption plume rising to estimated 12 km (36,000 ft).

But, nine months after the mountain has continuously been emitting smoke into the sky and molten rock on its slopes, many residents need not to be told by anyone to move away for safety reasons.

Reports from the area, one of the most inhospitable terrains due to scorching temperatures and remote as well, say many people who have lived around the 'mountain of God" are now calling it quits.

Government authorities in Ngorongoro district have confirmed that many residents are now moving away to settle in other villages which are a safe distance from the active volcano.

Ngorongoro MP Saning'o Ole Telele told reporters last weekend that up to 5,000 people may have moved out of the area for fear of being affected by the volcanic ash and hot lava.

He said some of those who have fled include those who have lived around Oldonyo Lengai for many years. They are reported to have relocated from the area with their livestock herds.

Many of them have re-settled in Ebwati, Nainokanoka, Ekipisu and Malambo villages in Ngorongoro district and Silalei and Mto-wa- Mbu villages in neighbouring Monduli villages.

Others have gone to Gelai, Gelaibombwa na Chumvini villages which are a safe distance from the "smoking mountain'' and east of Lake Natron.

Those fleeing, says, Mr. Ole Telele, did so fearing the effects of the mountain behaviour, having spewed smoke almost continuously since July last year.

According to the Ngorongoro legislator, himself born there, the revered mountain on the Great Rift Valley bed has not behaved the way it did this time around.

"This is the first time for many years that we have seen the mountain spewing ash and lava continuously for such long time. The situation has been compounded by the earthquakes" he added.

The eruption of the mountain, believed to have been triggered by a series of earthquakes, that battered northen regions since last July, may appear a natural phenomenon but can lead to humanitarian crisis.

It has led to, among other things, food crisis because those displaced had to be supported by relatives in their villages of destination.

Many men have also abandoned their homesteads to seek jobs in towns and trading centres.The mountain and the adjacent Lake Natron are about 250 kilometres north west of Arusha.

The displacement due to volcanic eruption has come at a particularly unfavourable time. Oldonyo Lengai area and the entire Maasailand is reeling under prolonged dry spell this year.

The government has not been quiet all along since the crisis began last year.

First it advised people to keep away from the mountain especially during the height of the earthquakes and when it started erupting.

Several teams of officials, including those responsible for disaster management under the Prime Minister's Office, have been there many times trying to assess the situation.

Those told to keep away included the tourists who are fond of being to the area, Oldonyo Lengai being the only active volcano in East Africa.

Those who spoke to journalists who visited the area after first reports of eruption, played down dangers from the mountain, maintaining that the phenomenon was common.

Those who opposed what they called "alarmist" calls criticised the authorities of making statements in order to scare away tourists. The industry supports a handful of people there.

But it did not take long before a tour guide who was taking tourists atop the mountain on fire was himself severely burnt by the hot magma flowing from high on the mountain.

Few weeks later, it was the turn of the pastoralists. Their livestock were affected by volcanic ash and dust. Some are reported to have fallen sick or died.

For the nomadic pastoralists, that was enough excuse to stick to the tradition; looking for greener pastures for the animals when something has gone wrong around their living spot.

As if that was not enough, towards the end of last year there were reports of people suffering from the effects of volcanic ash and continued to be worried by a spate of earth tremors.

The 2,951 metre ( 9,440 feet) high mountain, one of the highest in Tanzania, simply refused to stop emitting smoke and lava, something never experienced before, at least in "recent" geological times.

Only two weeks ago, two high level government delegations visited the area to get first hand information on the situation.

One team was led by the minister of state in the Vice President's Office responsible for Environment Dr. Batilda Buriani and another by Phillip Marmo, the minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office (Paliamentary Affairs).

Upon return to Arusha, Dr. Buriani, who took over the environment portfolio during the recent cabinet reshuffle, admitted that the sitatution on Oldonyo Lengai was still disturbing.

This is the first time the mountain was emitting smoke and hot lava continuoulsy for a long time. The last time it did so was in 1966 and 1967 but lasted for only six months.

"Experts must establish as to why the mountain behaved this way unlike in the past," she said after spending the whole day near the mountain and Lake Natron, whose highly alkaline waters is attributed to ash spewed from Oldonyo Lengai.

The minister witnessed for herself the mountain emitting smoke and lava and was told the phenomenon followed an eruption which released gas and ash into the sky.

The last major eruption on Oldonyo Lengai was in August 1966. The incident was captured by the local and international media and flashed around the world, especially the scientific institutions.

Since then there had not been an eruption of such magnitude, although notable onces were recorded in 1983, 1993, 2002 and as late as 2006.

However, some experts say much as there had not been such scary eruption, a series of earth tremors and continuous smoke and lava for such long period is something not to be ignored.

Dr. Buriani agreed with the experts' advice that scientists should be sent to Oldonyo Lengai area to study the impact of volcanic ash emissions from the mountain.

The 1996 and 1967 incidents, according to accounts, followed a major eruption which sent the local residents fleeing the area in their hundreds.

That period's eruption was the strongest to be recorded on the volcanic mountain in recent decades and killed wildlife and livestock.

"Smoke emission from the mountain lasted for only six months during 1966/67. This is not the case now. Since July last year, this has happened almost continuously" she said.

During her day long visit to the area, she was told that livestock were much affected by the volcanic dust and some died after licking it.

"As government, we are yet to establish the impact of volcanic eruptions around Oldonyo Lengai and its impact to livestock and people" she affirmed.

According to her, the matter would be dealt by the Disaster Management Unit under PMO and the Geology Survey of Tanzania.

The mountain of God, which the Maasai used to perform some traditional rituals became hostile to its neighbours from July last year when it started emitting hot lava and smoke from its vents following a series of earth tremors in the northern regions.

Until then, the mountain and Lake Natron, an alkaline water body near the Kenyan border, used to attract about 8,000 tourists annually.

These included scientists going to study geomorphology of the landscapes.

Several families of nomadic pastoralists living there are reported to have relocated to other villages which are farther from the mountain.

No major casualities have been reported but people living there have complained of chest problems and coughing excessively due to exposure to toxic materials emitted by the mountain.

Source: http://www.arushatimes.co.tz