The eruption of Nyiragongo volcano evacuated the city of Goma

The lava flow reached the outskirts of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, after the sudden eruption of Nyiragongo volcano on Saturday 22 May. “Besides the flow of lava to the northeast, another flow also flows into the city.” It was observed on the night of Saturday to Sunday the official of Virunga National Park, where the volcano is located.

In the evening the government ordered the evacuation of Goma. Electricity was cut off in most parts of the city and thousands of residents, often with their families, headed by foot, motorbike or car to the nearby Rwandan border. “There are a lot of people on the road, a lot of cars. This is an escape.”A resident told France Presse, who took his family in his car to take Masisi Road towards Saki in North Kivu province.

The pyroclastic flow finally stopped its advance overnight, stopping in the northeastern suburbs of the city. The lava façade is located precisely in the suburb of Bohini, which marks the city boundary with the neighboring Nyiragongo Province, where the homes of several villages have been flooded. The airport, located a few hundred meters away, has escaped.

This morning, after the lava flowed out #Niragongo The volcano has stopped, and most of the evacuated Congolese have returned to Rubavu. #Rwanda About 8,000 people welcomed it last night. pic.twitter.com/22QV5lCFrQ

The Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (RwandaEm Emergency) May 23, 2021

Strong fire and fumes were still emanating from the rocky lava façade, black in color and always unstable. Residents have felt several earthquakes, around ten, in Goma since dawn. “People are slowly starting to go home, and the situation is fairly calm at the moment.”A resident of Agence France-Presse saw.

The previous major eruption of Nyiragongo volcano dates back to January 17, 2002. It killed more than 100 people, and covered the entire eastern part of Goma with lava, including half of the airport runway. The Goma region is an area of ​​intense volcanic activity, with six volcanoes, including Nyiragongo and nearby Nyamuragera which have elevations of 3,470 and 3,058 meters respectively.