The Volcanological Observatory of Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reported Monday evening, March 13, that a “fiery glow” was observed at the top of a volcano in the region without presenting risks for the city, affected in 2021 by the eruption of another volcano.
“From 6 p.m., a fiery glow was observed at the top of the Nyamulagira volcano”, neighboring Nyiragongo, whose eruption in May 2021 killed 32 people and destroyed several hundred houses in Goma, provincial capital of North Kivu, according to the observatory. “Current seismicity data indicate magma movement at shallow depths toward the central crater” of Nyamulagira, the observatory said in a statement: “If current activity […] leads to an eruption on the flank, the lava would orient itself in Virunga National Park. »
The observatory recommends to the population of Goma, a city of more than 1 million inhabitants located on the Rwandan border, to “keep calm and go about their business freely”. However, it specifies that “volcanic products” such as ash and slag “can fall into inhabited areas” and in particular asks to respect the instructions for washing vegetables. He also recommends “airmen” to consider wind direction when flying over the Virunga region.
Unlike Nyiragongo, which directly threatens Goma in the event of an eruption, previous external eruptions of Nyamulagira have flowed into Virunga Park or nearby roads.
