The earth is still shaking on Monday morning, May 24 in Goma. Seismic tremors that maintain concern in the population of the capital of northern Kivu, terrified on Saturday night of the Niyragongo volcano. The human path is already heavy with almost twenty victims. Several places on the outskirts were damaged by the lava, especially Buhene.
With our special correspondent in Buhene, William basimike
Kepi on his head, slippers on his feet, Floribert Chumba had his house destroyed. Two of her children are missing. He looks for them in what remains of his neighborhood: “This was my home. All houses are gone. We have nothing left. We ask the state to help us, because we have nothing else to do. I lost my goats and other household effects. I have found some family members, but at the moment I am looking for my children, since the day before yesterday I have not seen them. ”
Like Floribert, other residents of Buhene, who have fled their homes and curious people, return here with dozens to see the damage. Entire homes, shops and water and beverage facilities were devoured of dry lava, but still hot.
Still potential dangers
What worries me is the smell of smoke coming from the lava. One person lost his life this morning in Buhene after inhaling this odor, as his neighbor Bakagna Samuel claims: “Lava came out of the toilet hole and when we came in contact with the gas we have it. Found lying on the ground. We think it was the smoke that killed him. “
Two other people died overnight from Sunday to Monday in Kibati, north of Goma, suffocated by lava smoke. Following this situation, schools and universities closed their doors for the time being.
• Lack of monitoring of the volcano?
In Goma, all eyes are on the government and the Goma Volcanological Observatory. OVG received funding from the World Bank until June 2020, but the state had to take over, which was not done. The opposition’s deputy Jean-Baptiste Muhindo Kasekwa had challenged him in October by post to the Minister of Scientific Research and put a written question to the National Assembly about the leadership of this state institution that has never been reviewed.
The agents have been unpaid for several months. They tried to demonstrate, the management committee threw them in jail and the state did not take care of visiting, going and checking and finding out exactly what the problem was. The Lucha civic movement has issued warnings, even demonstrations. There was no echo.
Jean Baptiste Muhindo Kasekwa, opposition MP from Goma
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