The Niragongo volcano , near the city of Goma in eastern Congo , erupted today, causing panic among residents, many of whom are trying to flee to neighboring Rwanda for safety.
The government has even launched an evacuation plan for the eastern city of Goma after a volcano erupted, government spokesman Patrick Moyaya said on Twitter. Niragongo Volcano is about 10 kilometers north of Goma.
Red flashes can be seen from the crater of the volcano and a strong smell of sulfur has spread in the city located on the shores of Lake Kivu. At the moment, no lava flow is visible, nor has any seismic vibration been felt. But Goma panicked and many residents ran back to their homes, watching with concern the crater and the sky to the north, painted red.
“The sky is red. There is a strong smell. We see from afar huge flames springing from the mountain. But there are no vibrations. The sirens have not sounded either so far, “said Karin Bala, a resident.
Electricity has been cut off in much of the city and hundreds of people, men, women and children, are heading on foot or by car to the Rwandan border.
“People are leaving or preparing to leave,” said another resident: some were carrying their mattresses, others their children… Apart from Rwanda, some are seeking refuge west in the Masisi area. “I took the children and we leave by car. “There is a risk of lava coming to Goma, you never know,” explained one resident.
On January 17, 2002, Niragongo exploded, covering almost all of eastern Goma with lava, including half of the city’s airport runway. The deadliest explosion occurred in 1977, when more than 600 people were killed.
The Goma region, in the province of North Kivu, borders Rwanda and Uganda. It has intense volcanic activity, with six volcanoes rising there, including Niragongo (3,470 meters) and Niamuragir (3,058 meters). These two volcanoes are just a few kilometers apart and are located in Virunga National Park.
A source close to the park said the lava was flowing into the Kimbuba community, north of Goma, on the border with Rwanda. He added that the power supply from the Matbebe power plant has been cut off.
