VIDEOS – VOLCANIC ERUPTION – CONGO
On 22 May 2021, Mount
Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began
erupting. lava began to flow towards the city of Goma about 20 kilometers to the south.
As a result, 32 people died as a result of the eruption and 1,000 homes were destroyed.
The eruption of Mount
Nyiragongo is similar to the eruption in
2002, which caused the death of 250 people.
Volcanic eruptions happen when
lava and gas are discharged from a volcanic vent.
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We have Two Short Videos for you
Video 1 and Video 2
VIDEO 1
VIDEO 2
OBSERVATORY CRITICISM
Residents
blamed the Goma Volcano Observatory for not providing warning of the eruption.
The World
Bank had eliminated funding for the scientists performing the
observation in 2020, and the observatory had stopped monitoring the volcano a
few months later. On May 10, 2021, the observatory had issued a warning
that seismic activity at Nyiragongo had increased, and had previously warned
that the volcano’s lava lake was filling up, increasing the chances of an
eruption or earthquake-related disaster.
According
to the scientific director of the Volcanic Observatory of Goma, Celestin
Kasereka Mahinda, shortage of funding was the reason that made it difficult for
the scientists at the Observatory to caution the public on the eruption.
Mahinda also advised the people of Goma to avoid going to places that have been
hit by the lava from the Volcano, thereby refraining from traveling
unnecessarily, because the lavas are harmful and toxic.
