The famous volcano Nyiragongo, near the city of Goma, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), came into sudden activity on Saturday night and the authorities ordered the evacuation of the city. This Sunday morning, the lava flow seems to have stopped its development, reports AFP, and the inhabitants are starting to return.
On Sunday morning, the lava flow seems to have stopped, reported a videographer from Agence France Presse and our correspondents. The flow stopped in the suburbs of the city of Goma which was saved, according to the military governor who reports an initial assessment of 5 people killed.
But in the surrounding villages, the damage is significant, our correspondent reports on Sunday morning. Patient Ligodi. The inhabitants, thanks to the tranquility, are beginning to return to their villages, especially since one of the main access roads to Goma is intact. But the authorities still recommend not staying in the houses.
Because the volcano is still active and tremors are reported. During the night, Célestin Kasereka Muhinda, from the Volcanological Observatory of Goma, specified at the RFI microphone that it was “a soft eruption, that is – To say that there are not many shakes, the flow is low.” The speed of movement would be one kilometer per hour , according to the specialist.
The Congolese authorities are mobilized in Kinshasa. President Tshisekedi, who traveled to Brussels, announced last night that he would return to the country on Sunday “to monitor the coordination of aid to local people”. A government crisis committee also met in the evening to organize rescue and evacuation of the city.
For the residents, one night to escape the eruption
Nyiragongo was put into operation around 7 pm local time. Glowing light began to escape from the crater and an odor of sulfur spread through Goma, a city of more than 600,000 inhabitants located on the southern flank of the volcano by the lake. Kivu about 20 kilometers from the crater.
A first crack appeared early in the evening on the eastern flank of the volcano and the lava began to move towards the site of Kibati and towards Rwanda.
Later in the evening, a second crack opened on the west side. The lava went to Goma before arriving at the city’s airport overnight, and authorities ordered the city to be evacuated.
We had analyzed all the situations and decided that the contingency plan, to say the evacuation plan for the city of Goma, was launched. And all services are mobilized. (…) Monusco has been called upon to support the mobilized efforts of the armed forces, the police and all the people of Goma.
Government spokesman Patrick Muyaya
The location and direction of the lava flows were also closely monitored by Virunga National Park.
On the side of MONUSCO troops, great attention was paid to the airport. Aircraft have been moved from Goma to Bukavu and even Entebbe in Uganda, as a precautionary measure, if lava threatens the facilities.
?? #Nyiragongo volcanic eruption: many population movements are observed in #Goma. Follow the local media to stay informed about developments and follow government directives. pic.twitter.com/UdcCG3Hxco
– UNICEF in the DRC (@UNICEFDRC) 22 May 2021 Evacuation to Saké or to Rwanda
During the night the inhabitants who left the city of Goma by taking either the direction of Saké, to the west. Others, from 3,500 to 5,000, took the direction of the border with Rwanda, and what is known as the “Great Barrier” and the “Little Barrier”, the two border posts between the two countries that had been left open to allow them in, reports our special correspondent Laure broulard.
“Rwandan borders are open and the reception of our neighbors is peaceful,” Rwanda’s ambassador to the DRC, Vincent Karega, commented on Twitter last night.
These refugees began this Sunday morning to return to their homes in the Democratic Republic of Congo, once they had arrived, balluchons on their backs or heads.
UPDATE: The volcanic eruption in Nyiragongo seems to be slowing down. Some of Goma, DRC residents who fled to Rwanda, are returning home. Photo / RBA pic.twitter.com/qYS2DGM5RF
– The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) May 23, 2021 Precedent 2002
The latest eruption in Nyiragongo, over 3,000 meters high, dates back to January 17, 2002. It caused the deaths of more than a hundred people and covered almost the entire eastern part of Goma with lava, including half of the city. runway.
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