DRC: a second volcano near Nyiragongo erupts

In second volcano, near the Nyiragongo volcano in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), erupted on Saturday morning, Congolese government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya told Agence France-Presse. “Today there is an eruption of the Murara volcano, located in an uninhabited place in the Virunga park. We are following this new development very closely, ”said Patrick Muyaya.

The Murara is a small volcano, often considered a secondary crater of the Nyamuragira volcano, one of the two large volcanoes with the Nyiragongo with strong volcanic activity. It is located about 25 kilometers north of the city of Goma, and its lava flows still flow into the northern part of Virungas National Park, generally sparing inhabited areas.

Six volcanoes in the region

The Goma region is an area of ​​intense volcanic activity, with six volcanoes, including Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira, which culminate at 3,470 and 3,058 meters respectively. The Nyiragongo, whose lava flows directly threaten the city of Goma, capital of the province of North Kivu built directly at its feet on the shores of Lake Kivu, had erupted without any warning signs last Saturday.

Two huge lava flows had escaped from the flanks of the volcano, one of which came to rest in the northeast suburbs of Goma. At least 34 people were killed, and between 900 and 2,500 homes were destroyed. On Thursday, faced with the risk of a new eruption, or even the appearance of lava in the city or under the waters of the lake, the authorities ordered the evacuation of the city for at least two weeks.