Lake Nyos

Nyos-Acha

August 24, 1986
The road to Nyos was muddy and horrendous, even for my dirt bike. Approximately half-way between Cha and Nyos-Acha, I saw a young woman lying face down in the middle of the road with her baby strapped to her back. As I entered the village, there was an overwhelming smell of sulfur lingering in the air. A small group of men from the unaffected villages were burying bodies in mass graves.

I got off my bike and walked up toward the lake, knowing that I might have to evacuate Nyos-Acha if the lake was unstable. It was a very surreal walk to the lake. There was no life; insects, birds, cows and humans. Only the whispering of the wind through the trees.

Interview: Ephriam Che, Nyos (8/22/86)
Translation: Ephriam Che, Nyos (pdf)
Interview: Nyos Survivor (8/21/86)
Translation: Nyos Survivor (pdf)

Papa no day, Mama no day, Pickin no day! A de go fo husay?

There were very few survivors found in Nyos-Acha, probably less than a dozen.

It was reported by locals that they felt a burning sensation on their feet while trying to cross the stream in Nyos valley the morning of August 22, 1986. They were unable to cross the drainage, due to the burning sensation. Local villagers believed this was caused by hot water flowing in the stream.

To the contrary the burning sensation was caused by a pocket of gas hovering over the water. I do not know if the gas was visible or not, the question was never asked. Sorry!

Nyos village is below the far ridge. The gas swept down this valley towards Nyos.