Why did Mount Nyiragongo erupt in 2002?

Answer 1

Nyiragongo is associated with a formation called the East African Rift, a region in which Africa is being pulled apart by geologic forces. As the African plate is pulled apart, the crust becomes thin. The decreases pressure on the extremely hot rocks of the upper mantle, allowing them to melt. This molten rock, called magma, then rises up through the crust to form volcanoes such as Nyiragongo.

Answer 2

Mt. Nyiragongo lies on a constructive plate boundary where two plates are moving apart. This has caused the formation of the Great African Rift Valley - where Mt. Nyiragongo lies. The magma type found beneath the crust here are basaltic (very runny) and the crust is thin and easily eroded. This means that there is less pressure so magma can escape from the lithosphere easily into the surface. The magma which is more dense than the continental crust (African plate) rises to the ground to form volcanoes (in this case Mt. Nyiragongo). In recent years, Mt. Nyiragongo erupted in 2003 and most recently in 2012.

Source: The Knowledge of My Mind - Geography - Natural Hazards - Constructive Plate Margins - African Rift Valley - Mt. Nyiragongo.

Answer 3

The main causes of the Nyiragongo volcano was the tectonic movements of the Kivu rift. This caused eruption of the lava and unfortunately killed about 100 people.