By Bidola Adeyemo
Goma Volcanological Observatory (OVG) on Wednesday observed a possible volcano eruption in Nyamuragira volcano in the east of the DR Congo with not so many possible direct consequences on residents.
Celestin Kasereka Mahinda, scientific director of the OVG explained to AFP that after observations for two hours eruption may occur inside the craters.
“We went yesterday to Nyamuragira with the helicopter of Monusco (the UN force in DRC) and we worked for more than two hours in the crater.
“Our observations are that Nyamuragira remains active” and that an “internal eruption”, inside the crater, “may occur in the near future”, he added. “When we talk about eruption, the population assumes that the lava will flow towards the houses, but for us, scientifically, the eruption is the appearance of lava on the surface,” he said.
Célestin Mahinda also pointed out that unlike Nyiragongo, which “directly threatens the cities of Goma and Gisenyi” (a Rwandan city bordering Goma), the previous external eruptions of Nyamuragira were directed into the Virunga Park or towards nearby roads.
An internal eruption, however, could result in “a plume of smoke” heading toward populated areas and could also make air traffic difficult in the area, the scientist further explained.
“The rain that would pass through the volcanic gas would be acid rain that could have consequences on health”.
The last eruption of Nyiragongo, with lava flowing through cracks in the volcano’s flanks, killed 32 people and destroyed several hundred homes on May 22. Less than four months later, lava had reappeared in the crater, which, for the scientific director of the OVG, was rather good news, as the volcano had found “a way to breathe.”
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