On this day, 39 years ago, on August 25, 1986 (July 20, 1986 in the lunar calendar), 1200 people died of toxic tobacco poisoning in Cameroon. On August 25, 1986, Cameroonian President Paul Biya said that at least 1200 people were killed by toxic gases spewing from the Ness Volcanic Lake in northeastern Cameroon, and the vast majority of the victims died in their sleep. According to officials, toxic gases spewed out from the bottom of the lake at great pressure in the middle of the night. The lake forms at the bottom of a volcano that may be resting. The wind blew the poison gas to at least three villages near the lake area, suffocating the village residents. Scientists say the toxic gas is composed mainly of carbon dioxide and mixed with hydrogen and is so acidic that it can damage the lungs of a person who breathes the gas. According to Cameroonian officials, a similar incident occurred in nearby Lake Monousse in 1984, and about 10 people died of poisoning. They said they feared that decomposing bodies that had not yet been found by rescue workers might cause an epidemic. Several countries provided medical assistance. A team of American geologists was sent to Cameroon to detect the cause of the toxic gas eruption.