Panel Fails to Agree on Cause of Cameroon Disaster

An international scientific conference on the release of gas from Lake Nios that killed at least 1,700 people last August disagreed on the causes of the disaster but agreed that evacuees should not yet return to their villages.

Eighty-seven foreign scientists and 117 Cameroonians met in Yaounde for five days last week to discuss the catastrophe that struck Aug. 21 in northwestern Cameroon.

The conference was held under the auspices of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the U.N. Development Program and the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa.

The scientists agreed that an immense cloud of gas, mostly carbon dioxide, rose from the lake and spread through valleys up to 15 miles away.

Many residents of nearby villages were asleep and died in their beds. Others died trying to flee. About 700 people were hospitalized and about 4,000 were evacuated.

Two Theories

The scientists were divided throughout the meeting on how the disaster occurred.

The majority opinion, which included the American view, was that the gas came from molten rock deep in the Earth. The minority opinion, held mainly by the French, Swiss and Italians, was that a buildup of pressure in underground water caused the explosion.

“Neither theory can be proved wrong, but the first one is easier to explain,” American geologist John Lockwood said.

Doctors failed to agree on the causes of some lesions found on the victims. Some felt the lesions were caused by strong concentrations of carbon dioxide. Others blamed the presence of acids in the gas.

The conference did agree on recommendations to the Cameroon government. Those included further study to establish danger zones, where people should not live, and that people from affected villages not return until further studies have been completed.