STOCKHOLM / ROME, Jun 9 2021 (IPS) - In February the killing of the Italian ambassador, Luca Attanasio, in the vicinity of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, did for a short while put the global spotlight on this troubled area, where warfare, poverty and general insecurity generate immense human suffering.
On the 22nd of May, the same area was afflicted by one more disaster – Mount Nyiragongo erupted. This huge volcano is located 20 kilometres north of the town of Goma and 10 kilometres from the border to Rwanda. A lava stream reached the airport and threatened the city centre of eastern Goma. Authorities urged all residents to evacuate the town – it has half a million inhabitants – causing thousands of people to leave their homes. At least thirty persons died during the chaos. The humanitarian crisis continues unabated. More than 230,000 displaced people are currently crowding small towns and villages around Goma. Lack of clean water, foo
Thousands of Goma residents have now started returning home after fleeing North-Kivu’s main city last month after the nearby Nyiragongo volcano erupted, leaving dozens dead. FRANCE 24’s Nicolas Germa…
On Saturday, seismologists in the Democratic Republic of Congo reported 61 earthquakes in a 24-hour period near the Mount Nyiragongo volcano, which erupted a week ago, urging inhabitants to stay away from lava flows.
61 quakes recorded in Congo per day news.am - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news.am Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Volcanic Eruption - Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA), DREF Operation n° MDRCD032
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Description of the disaster
On 22 May 2021 at 19:00 HRS, Mt. Nyiragongo, located in North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo suddenly erupted. Saturday’s eruption appears to have been caused when fractures opened in the volcano’s side, causing lava flows in various directions.
The first eruption was reported at 19:00 22 May on the north east side of the crater towards the Rwanda border and not Goma city. The lava initially started flowing towards Rwanda.
The second eruption was reported at 21:30 due to a crack on the crater facing towards Goma city, facing the Goma International Airport. This sudden volcanic eruption created panic within the population, leading to mass movement towards the south-west (from Goma into Sake town in Massisi territory in North Kivu and into Bukavu in South Kivu province). Overall, approximately 30,000 people are rep