Invisible Gas From POND Killed 1,700 People in Minutes! Lake Nyos Incident

A quiet lake in Cameroon, Africa, suddenly turned dangerous. Lake Nyos is a deep crater lake, formed by a volcanic eruption long ago. Beneath its waters, carbon dioxide (CO₂) from underground volcanic activity slowly built up over time. Normally, the gas stays trapped under pressure at the lake’s bottom.

On August 21, 1986, something disturbed the water — possibly a landslide or small eruption. The trapped gas suddenly escaped in a massive cloud. The CO₂, which is heavier than air, rolled down into nearby valleys. People and animals in its path couldn’t breathe.