Individual location and risk mitigation: understanding of spatial influences on protective behavioural responses of Goma population against volcanic threat from Nyiragongo (East DR Congo) | Blaise Mafuko Nyandwi (VUB, MRAC; UniGom)
Risk is an inherently spatial concept where location really matters. However, very little work has been done to determine how individual location enters into people’s assessment of their own vulnerability in order to prompt them to adopt mitigation behaviour in face of natural hazards. Risk mitigation, as the lessening or minimizing of the adverse impacts of a hazardous event, requires decisions from the population at risk that turn into mitigation actions and reactions. They are presumed to be carried out under conditions of uncertainty as in case of volcanic eruptions, especially when the threatened area is densely populated like the city of Goma in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The mitigation actions and reactions can be influenced by the individual risk perception and the willingness of implementing protective actions (protection motivation).
On one hand, this study describes the spatial variation of the individual volcanic risk perception of 2,204 adults among Goma population as well as their motivation to implement risk protective measures before the 2021 Nyiragongo eruption. In addition, on the other hand, it presents the spatial influences on the evacuation decision-making of 1,137 adults among the same population during both volcano-seismic phases of the aforementioned eruption. A spatial contrast in risk perception and as in protection motivation was observed between the eastern part of the city, historically impacted by lava flows, and the western one, with higher values in the east. It suggests that living in the impact area plays a role in formulating risk perception and motivating individuals to implement risk protective measures. In terms of evacuation behaviour, the path of historical lava flows has also considerably influenced the evacuation decision-making of the population, those living far from it considering themselves as less likely to be threatened. Understanding of the spatial influences on the protective behavioural responses of a population against volcanic threat can help to better contextualise and improve risk mitigation strategies.
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Blaise Mafuko Nyandwi is an environmental geologist working at volcanic risk mitigation and the interactions of natural hazards and human behaviour in Goma, D.R. Congo. Blaise holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geology and a Master’s degree in Environmental management. He is a junior lecturer at the University of Goma, Department of Geology and is currently conducting Ph.D. research at the Africa Museum in collaboration with VUB.