DR Congo: Nyiragongo volcano erupts sparking panic – gov’t orders evacuation of Goma city

AFP | Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have urged residents of the eastern city of Goma to evacuate after a volcano overlooking the area erupted.

Mount Nyiragongo volcano erupted on Saturday, spewing red fumes into the night sky sparking an exodus to neighboring Rwanda.

The governor of North Kivu province, of which Goma is capital, “confirmed the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano … at around 7:00 pm”.

“Investigations are underway and people must follow the guidance of civil protection” units, Constant Ndima said, appealing for “calm”.

Power was cut in large parts of the city and hundreds of residents began leaving their homes and heading towards the nearby border with Rwanda.

“The sky has turned red,” one resident, Carine Mbala, told AFP by telephone. “There is a smell of sulphur. In the distance you can see giant flames coming out of the mountain.

“But there has not been any earthquake,” she added.

Eastern DRC, Goma, ravaged by volcanic eruption Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/RuAQOELG2G

— Thabiso Lehoko (@ThabisoLehoko) May 23, 2021

The last time Nyiragongo erupted was January 17, 2002, killing more than a hundred people and covering almost all of the eastern part of Goma with lava, including half of the airport’s landing strip.

Hundreds of thousands fled the city.

The deadliest eruption of the 3,000-meter (9,840-foot) high volcano was in 1977, when more than 600 died.

Goma sits on the mountain’s southern flank and overlooks Lake Kivu.

The Goma region, which lies in North Kivu province, bordering Rwanda and Uganda, has 6 volcanoes, all higher than 3,000 meters (9,840 feet).