On the night of August 21, 1986, a cloud of carbon dioxide gas rose from Lake Nyos at nearly 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph). The gas crossed the northern edge of the lake and crossed several valleys, displacing all the air and suffocating 1,700 people and 3,500 livestock. Scientists concluded that a 100 m (330 ft) fountain of water and foam formed at the lake’s surface.
“Scientists disagree on the source of the Lake Nyos’ deadly gas. Some believe that the decomposition of organic material near the bottom of the lake causes the gas to build up, and seasonal changes in surface temperature triggers mixing of deep and shallow water, allowing the gas to be released. Because Nyos lies in the crater of an old volcano, others believe that the gas is volcanic in origin.” (Guinness World Records 2013)
Lake Nyos is the lake responsible for the most deaths without drowning. It is about a 1.5-hour drive from my village, Misaje.