Feature: Fear reawakened over fresh eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in NE DR Congo-Xinhua

Feature: Fear reawakened over fresh eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in NE DR Congo

Source: Xinhua| 2022-01-21 22:31:46|Editor: huaxia

Goma, DR Congo, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Still agitated after the deadly explosion in May 2021, the Mount Nyiragongo, in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), continues to haunt the local, as intense activities are being reported in the volcano's central crater, reawakening fear for another eruption.

Since early 2022, the Goma Volcanological Observatory (OVG), located in Goma, a major Congolese city at the foot of two active volcanoes, Nyamulagira and Nyiragongo, has been reporting "intense activities" of the Mount Nyiragongo, which has been spewing ashes every now and then over the past recent weeks.

"In addition to the activities in the central crater of Nyiragongo, there is (an) intense activity of volcanic tremors (continuous vibrations) on the southern flank of this volcano," OVG director Professor Adalbert Muhindo said in a statement dated to January 6.

Temperatures have also ranged as high as 400 Celsius (750 Fahrenheit) in some places, while the volcano was emitting sulphur dioxide gas and smoke and carbon dioxide readings have increased, said Muhindo.

For Safi Muronzi, a local resident seeking refuge near the volcano, the falling ashes, other than causing great "inconvenience" to her daily errands, are also a clear reminder of the devastating night when Nyiragongo roared to life on May 22, 2021.

Right after the volcano suddenly burst into activity, electricity supply was soon cut off in Goma, home to nearly 2 million, leaving much of the city in darkness under the night sky illuminated with orange flames.

The city was lucky enough to scape a potentially enormous disaster as the lava flows stopped on the outskirts, but at least 32 souls have lost their life after the traumatic night.

The displaced residents were forced to run for their life a week later when authorities raised the alarm out of fear of a fresh volcanic eruption, while some of them, like Muronzi still live in temporary camps and yearn for the day when everything would be in place again.

"Because of the falling volcanic ashes, we cannot go out. We have to constantly wash and clean everything in the house because of the ashes," she said, admitting that she is now living with the fear of another eruption that might leave her family once again out of pocket.

The volcanic ash could possibly lead to serious health issues, warned Mathieu Yalire, a researcher who works at OVG, calling on local residents to "pay extra attention" and watch out for ashes that could easily contaminate food and water.

"Unfortunately, with water shortage in the city, we are now facing a more difficult situation," he said.

Twenty years ago, in January 2002, 250 people were killed in Nyiragongo's last major eruption, a trama that haunts the Congolese to date. With recent volcanic activities reawakening looming fears over a fresh eruption, local authorities now call for calm, hoping for the best while preparing for the worst.

"In case there is a new volcanic eruption, we are better prepared and better equipped to protect our people. We remain in serenity," said Aime Boji, a minister, last week in Goma, noting that precautions are undertaken by the government.

From January 19 to 20, OVG experts and the DRC's officials have been working on an emergency plan in Kinshasa, in case of any surprise.

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