Nyiragongo volcano erupts in DR Congo triggering evacuation in Goma - Death toll reaches 32 - UPDATE

RT
Sat, 22 May 2021 22:26 UTC

© REUTERS/Olivia Acland

A general view shows smoke and flames at the volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo near Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo May 22, 2021

Mount Nyiragongo near the Congolese city of Goma has erupted, sending flames into the sky and spreading a strong smell of sulfur in the vicinity. The government has activated an evacuation plan for the city.

The volcano began erupting around 7:00 pm local time on Saturday. Footage shared online shows Nyiragongo spitting smoke and fire into the air, turning the night skies red.

The Mount is located some 10 km (6 miles) north of Goma, a city of some 670,000 people, which in turn is only 1 km (0.6 mi) away from the Rwandan border.

The eruption has caused massive panic among the residents, who rushed to flee to safety to neighbouring Rwanda, many of them on foot. Videos and photos show residents, including small kids, march purportedly towards the border together with their belongings.

Rwanda public broadcaster reported that more than 3,000 refugees have already crossed the border.

School, churches and other facilities will house those fleeing the calamity, Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) said.

There have been reports of lava rapidly moving toward the city, and that lava flows were about to reach the Goma International Airport.

The Democratic Republic of Congo government announced evacuation for the city. Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya tweeted that the government was "discussing the urgent measures'' to deal with the situation. As the residents scrambled to evacuate, power outrages were reported across Goma.

The last eruption of the volcano, which is one of the world's most active, claimed some 250 lives in 2002, leaving tens of thousands people homeless.

Nyiragongo's most deadliest eruption took place in 1977. At the time, flows of lava swept through the city, ravaging it at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour (37mph). The exact death toll from that eruption is unknown. AFP reported that more than 600 people were killed at the time

Comment:

Update: Aerial images show the destruction to the region in east Democratic Republic of Congo after the nighttime eruption of Mount Nyiragongo sent thousands of terrified residents fleeing in panic.

More footage of the lava flows:

Update 2: AP reports on May 24:

Death toll from Congo volcano eruption rises to at least 32

Officials say the death toll from the volcanic eruption in eastern Congo two days ago has risen to at least 32 people, while residents search for missing loved ones amid destroyed homes on the outskirts of the eastern city of Goma where aftershocks were detected. The head of Civil Protection for the North Kivu province gave the updated death toll, saying it is likely to keep rising. Joseph Makundi says some people were killed by the lava, some from resulting car accidents and others from inhaling toxic gas released from the cooling lava. Mount Nyiragongo turned the sky fiery red Saturday night and spewed torrents of lava into villages, killing people and destroying more than 500 homes.