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Scientific response to the 2021 eruption of Nyiragongo based on the implementation of a participatory monitoring system

2022-05-06, Boudoire, Guillaume, Calabrese, Sergio, Colacicco, A, Sordini, P, Habakaramo Macumu, P, Rafflin, Victoria, Valade, Sébastien, Mweze, T, Kazadi Mwepu, J.-C., Safari Habari, F, Amani Kahamire, T, Mumbere Mutima, Y, Ngaruye, Jean-Claude, Tuyishime, A, Tumaini Sadiki, A, Mavonga Tuluka, Georges, Mapendano Yalire, M, Kets, E-D, Grassa, Fausto, D'Alessandro, Walter, Caliro, Stefano, Rufino, Francesco, Tedesco, Dario, Université Clermont Auvergne, UCA, CNRS, IRD, OPGC, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, 6 avenue Blaise Pascal, 63178, Aubière, France, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia, United Nations Development Programme, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Concern Worldwide, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, DISTABIF, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy, Université Clermont Auvergne, UCA, CNRS, IRD, OPGC, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, 6 avenue Blaise Pascal, 63178, Aubière, France, Departamento de Vulcanología, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico, United Nations Development Programme, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Centre d’Expertise Géologique, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, KN 4 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda, Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board, KN 4 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda, Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Observatoire Volcanologique de Goma, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en RD Congo, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Sezione OV, Napoli, Italia, DISTABIF, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, via Vivaldi 43, 81100, Caserta, Italy, Mission de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation en RD Congo, Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo

The development of a resilient society is a major challenge for growing human population faced with abundant natural hazards. During and after the May 22, 2021 eruption of Nyiragongo, the local population was surprised and scared by the subsequent seismicity and associated surface fracturing, coupled with the alert of a possible new eruptive vent opening in Goma (Democratic Republic of Congo) and/or Gisenyi (Rwanda). The creation of a toll-free phone number enabled the population to record fractures and gas/thermal anomalies affecting the area. Such work was fundamental in enabling scientists and authorities to assess the associated risks. Crucially, gas data showed that the degassing through fractures did not represent direct transfer of magmatic volatiles but was more likely of superficial origin. Surprisingly, this participatory work revealed that the first fractures appeared several weeks before the eruption and their opening was not detected by the monitoring system. This firmly underlines the need for scientists to anchor citizen science in monitoring strategies.