Thousands Flee Homes As Volcano Erupts In Dr Congo

Thousands have fled over a volcanic eruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the flaming lava from Mount Nyiragongo appeared to have come to a halt on the outskirts of Goma city early Sunday.

According to an AFP correspondent at the scene, the molten rock, which the eruption had sent close to Goma airport on the shores of Lake Kivu, still appeared unstable, but had come to a standstill in the suburbs of the eastern city.

And around a dozen earth tremors were felt in the early hours. 

“People are beginning to return to their homes. The situation seems to have calmed down for the moment,” one resident said.

Rwanda’s emergency management ministry said more than 3,500 Congolese crossed the border. Rwandan state media said they would be lodged in schools and places of worship.

Volcano watchers have been worried that volcanic activity observed in the last five years at Nyiragongo mirrors that in the years preceding eruptions in 1977 and 2002.

There has been no official report of casualties during the latest eruption and it is unclear how many homes have been damaged.