# 2014–2015 eruption of Fogo (23 November 2014 – 8 February 2015)

URL: https://allhistories.com/cape-verde/timeline/2014-2014-2015-eruption-of-fogo
Location: Chã das Caldeiras, Fogo, Cape Verde
Themes: main-event

The eruption of Pico do Fogo began shortly after 10 a.m. on 23 November 2014, after several days of seismic activity, and lasted 77 days until 8 February 2015. It had a volcanic explosivity index of 3 and was the largest eruption since records began. About 1,000 residents of Chã das Caldeiras were evacuated. Lava covered Portela, where about 50 houses, a school and a hotel were destroyed, and damaged about 70% of Bangaeira. Another account says about 75% of buildings in Portela, Bangaeira and Ilhéu de Losna were destroyed. Geologist José Madeira estimated that about 1,000 people were displaced from two villages. No deaths or injuries were reported. As in 1995 some residents at first refused to leave. The eruption destroyed homes, farmland and infrastructure, and many traditional circular funco huts. The sources note the loss of farmland and traditional houses, which were the livelihood of the caldera's communities. At this point in the timeline (2014), Jorge Carlos Fonseca (9 September 2011 – 9 November 2021) was President of Cape Verde, head of state of the multiparty republic; Prime Minister José Maria Neves (1 February 2001 – 22 April 2016) led the government.

## Why it matters
It was the biggest recorded eruption in the archipelago and tested the country's civil protection without loss of life.

Ruler at the Time: [Jorge Carlos Fonseca](https://allhistories.com/cape-verde/rulers/jorge-carlos-fonseca-2011)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 2014–15 Fogo eruption](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_Fogo_eruption)
- [Wikipedia — Pico do Fogo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pico_do_Fogo)