Mount Nyiragongo eruption in DR Congo

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In summary: The volcano has been emitting gases and lava since Sunday morning. Lava flows have stopped but the volcano is still a threat.
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Mount Nyiragongo: DR Congo residents flee as volcano erupts​

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57215690

https://www.reuters.com/business/en...-expected-goma-says-volcanologist-2021-05-22/

The volcano, Nyiragongo is near the eastern border of DRC adjacent to Rwanda. Residents of Goma are fleeing. In 2002, Nyiragongo's eruption killed 250 people and left ~120,000 homeless.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/22/world/volcano-mount-nyiragongo-goma-congo-eruption/index.html
As of Sunday morning, lavas flows stopped. But, for how long?
Goma is on the edge of Lake Kivu on the Democratic Republic of Congo's border with Rwanda. The current metro area population of Goma in 2021 is 670,000, according to a projection by the UN, World Bank and others.
Peyre-Costa said a number of nongovernmental organizations in the region believe Goma's population is closer to 1 million.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Nyiragongo
Stratovolcano
Highest point - 3,470 m (11,385 ft)
Nyiragongo's lava lake has at times been the most voluminous known lava lake in recent history. The depth of the lava lake varies considerably. A maximum elevation of the lava lake was recorded at about 3,250 m (10,660 ft) prior to the January 1977 eruption – a lake depth of about 600 m (2,000 ft). Following the January 2002 eruption, the lava lake was recorded at a low of about 2,600 m (8,500 ft), or 900 m (3,000 ft) below the rim. The level has gradually risen since then. Nyiragongo and nearby Nyamuragira are together responsible for 40 per cent of Africa's historical volcanic eruptions.
https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=223030

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyamuragira
https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=223020
Stratovolcano

Both volcanoes are part of the Virunga mountains - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virunga_Mountains

Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira: a review of volcanic activity in the Kivu rift, western branch of the East African Rift System, from January 2021
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00445-021-01435-6
 
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this is also the most unstable and war-torn region of the DRC, where the majority of 2-5 million excess deaths occurred since the late 1990s
 
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Two major cracks appear on the ground in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma as powerful aftershocks from the Mount Nyiragongo volcano shook the area.



About 20 people have been killed by gases from the volcano. There have been several earthquakes, including one at Mag 4.5.

 
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Nyiragongo continues to threaten the city of Goma and surrounding area in North Kivu province of Republic of the Congo. Earthquakes continue to occur.

 
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FAQ: Mount Nyiragongo eruption in DR Congo

1. What caused the Mount Nyiragongo eruption in DR Congo?

The Mount Nyiragongo eruption in DR Congo was caused by a fissure opening on the side of the volcano, releasing a massive amount of lava and volcanic gases. This was likely due to the buildup of pressure within the volcano's magma chamber.

2. When did the Mount Nyiragongo eruption occur?

The most recent Mount Nyiragongo eruption occurred on May 22, 2021.

3. How long did the Mount Nyiragongo eruption last?

The eruption lasted for approximately 1 day, from the evening of May 22 to the morning of May 23.

4. What were the impacts of the Mount Nyiragongo eruption?

The eruption caused widespread destruction and displacement, with hundreds of homes destroyed and thousands of people forced to evacuate. There were also reports of casualties and injuries, as well as damage to infrastructure and farmland.

5. Is the Mount Nyiragongo eruption a common occurrence?

The Mount Nyiragongo volcano is known for its frequent eruptions, with the last major eruption occurring in 2002. However, the exact timing and magnitude of eruptions are difficult to predict, making it a constant threat to the surrounding communities.

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