The flaming, red-glowing lava pouring out of a volcano that erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday appears to have halted after reaching the suburbs of the city of Goma, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene.
Thousands of people fled when Mount Nyiragongo erupted during the night sending the still-unstable molten rock on a path to the eastern city.
Officials said the lava had reached Goma city airport — located on the outskirts of the metropolis on the shores of Lake Kivu — although residents said it had stopped at the edge of the facility.
Smoldering ashes are seen early morning on May 23, 2021 as flowing lava reached Goma in the east of DR Congo following the eruption of Mt Nyiragongo.
Earth tremors
Around a dozen earth tremors were felt in Goma in the early morning.
“People are beginning to return to their homes. The situation seems to have calmed down for the moment,” one resident said.
“But people are still scared. The authorities still haven’t made any official announcement so far this morning,” he added.
Residents are seen standing next to destroyed structures near smouldering ashes in Goma, east of the Democratic Republic of Congo on May 23, 2021.
The last time Nyiragongo erupted was January 17, 2002, killing more than a hundred people and covering almost all of the eastern part of Goma with lava, including half of the airport’s landing strip.
During that eruption, the victims were mostly sick or elderly abandoned to their fate in the northern districts of the city with some looting also taking place. BY DAILY NATION