Volcano in eastern Congo erupts, triggering panic in Goma

[riversedge]

Source: irishexaminer



Sat, 22 May, 2021 - 20:29
Hereward Holland, Reuters

Mount Nyiragongo in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world's most active volcanoes, erupted on Saturday, sending panicked residents of the nearby city of Goma fleeing, although a volcanologist said the city did not appear to be in danger.

People grabbed mattresses and other belongings and fled towards the frontier with neighbouring Rwanda as a red glow filled the sky above the city.

Dario Tedesco, a volcanologist in the lakeside city of around 2 million, told Reuters Goma did not appear to be at risk, and lava appeared to be flowing east in the direction of the Rwandan border. Earlier he had said he thought lava might hit Goma, but he later said this was not the case.....................................

Read more: https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-40296233.html

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A lava lake and a mini cone inside the Mount Nyiragongo volcano crater spew gas into the sky inside the Virunga National Park, near Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo February 12, 2021. Picture REUTERS/Hereward Holland

[soothsayer]

1. Thanks for posting

[Warpy]

2. Dreadful situation

Foreign volcanologists have had a great deal of trouble getting in there and the Congolese volcanologists are incredibly short of equipment and the infrastructure to monitor this monster.

Supposedly, the flow is not threatening the main part of Goma. People there very rightly mistrust this volcano, so they are evacuating.

[2naSalit]

6. Wow.

[Demovictory9]

3. Kick

[BobTheSubgenius]

4. A volcano can be incredibly dangerous in a number of ways.

A terrible idea to live near an active one.

[paleotn]

5. The rift keeps rifting.

[Eugene]

7. At least 15 dead, thousands forced to flee as volcano erupts in Congo

Source: Associated Press

At least 15 dead, thousands forced to flee as volcano erupts in Congo

May 23, 2021, 4:30 AM EDT / Updated May 23, 2021, 4:29 PM EDT / Source: Associated Press
By The Associated Press

GOMA, Congo — Torrents of lava poured into villages after dark in eastern Congo with little warning, leaving at least 15 people dead amid the chaos and destroying more than 500 homes, officials and survivors said Sunday.

The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on Saturday night sent about 5,000 people fleeing from the city of Goma across the nearby border into Rwanda, while another 25,000 others sought refuge to the northwest in Sake, the U.N. children's agency said Sunday.

More than 170 children were still feared missing Sunday and UNICEF officials said they were organizing transit centers to help unaccompanied children in the wake of the disaster.

Goma ultimately was largely spared the mass destruction it suffered the last time the volcano erupted back in 2002. Hundreds died then and more than 100,000 people were left homeless. But in outlying villages closer to the volcano, Sunday was marked by grief and uncertainty.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/thousands-forced-flee-mount-nyiragongo-volcano-erupts-congo-n1268261

[Hortensis]

8. Horrible. Those in Goma who ran first when this started had good reason.

Shame on whoever thought "panicking" residents of Goma was the big takeaway. Panicked people don't grab mattresses and other things they're going to need if their homes are wiped out, as in 2002 and as today for other unfortunates.