Volcanic crisis in Congo
The Nyiragongo volcano in eastern Congo began erupting on Jan. 17 with lava flows burning their way through towns and villages on Jan. 18, killing an estimated 45 people. Hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing across the border into Rwanda. News reports say a 35- to 70-meter swath of lava, at some places 2 meters high, advanced through the city of Gomo and poured into Lake Kivu. Gomo has a population of 400,000. Many people have evacuated by foot.
Christina Reed
Reuters
TV image: A fire rages near the Goma, Congo, airport Jan. 17, as a plane takes
off following the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano, six miles from the town
center of Goma. A river of molten rock poured from the volcano a day after it
erupted — killing dozens, swallowing buildings and forcing hundreds of thousands
to flee the town of Goma.
Links:
U.S. Geological Survey Map:
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