Abstract

The aim of this study was to contribute to the understanding of the processes that generated seismic swarms following the eruptions of the Nyiragongo volcano on May 22, 2021, through statistical analysis, spatial distributions of epicenters and hypocenters, determination of earthquake magnitudes and energies released. The volcano lies on the main axis of the western branch of the East African Rift. The may 22, 2021 followed by intense seismicity, which always results in material and human losses. After several observations and analysis of various parameters, we concluded that this intense seismic activity is generated by rift dynamics after the emptying of magmas in the volcano's magma chamber from depth to the surface, this causing rift instability. This seismicity is distributed throughout the rift, and is most concentrated in the northern part of the rift, at Lake Kivu. Nevertheless, other analyses such as the focal mechanism are essential to increase our understanding of this post-eruptive seismic activity.