In the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the most active African volcanoes, Nyiragongo, erupts. Residents of the city with a population of over one million Goma left their homes in panic and haste, taking only the essentials.
The DRC government has begun evacuating the residents of Goma. However, without waiting for this, many people fled straight on foot to the border with Rwanda.
Zachary Paluku, a local, tells The Associated Press:
“We are already in complete psychosis. Everyone is afraid, people run away. We really don’t know what to do. “
As a result of the last (in 2002) eruption of a deadly volcano located 10 km from the city, more than 250 residents died, another 120 thousand people were left homeless.
A new fissure has appeared in the volcano, through which the lava flows south, towards Goma, and has almost reached the airport on the outskirts of the city on the east side. There is no electricity in most areas, and the road from Goma to Beni city is flooded with lava.
Communications Minister Patrick Muay said on Twitter that the Prime Minister and the government are discussing “urgent measures” at an emergency meeting in the capital. People are advised to stay calm. The Rwandan authorities announced the official border crossing of 3,000 residents of Goma, they will be placed in schools and places of worship. Monusco, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, announced reconnaissance flights over the city.
Volcano Nyiragongo reaches a height of 3470 meters. Its lava, due to its special chemical composition, is superfluid. The speed of its movement from the slopes is 96 km / h. The last eruption of Nyiragongo in 2002 killed 250 people. The volcano is recognized as one of the most dangerous on the planet.
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