Residents of Goma, in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province, are on edge after a large flame was observed at the summit of the Nyiragongo volcano on Friday evening.
The sighting, which occurred around 6:30 pm local time, prompted an emergency meeting by the Goma Volcanological Observatory (OVG) management committee and union representatives.
According to the OVG, the exact status of the volcano remains unclear. To address this, a commission has been formed to assess the situation on the ground and analyze existing data over the next three days.
The commission will collect and analyze field data to identify any magmatic activity within and around the crater. Their findings will be compiled into a report submitted to the relevant authorities.
This heightened concern comes after Nyiragongo volcano erupted on May 22nd, 2021. The resulting lava flows devastated parts of Goma, displacing thousands of residents and destroying homes and infrastructure in seventeen nearby villages. The eruption tragically claimed the lives of around thirty people.
