DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Late Warning
Tens of thousands of people fled the city of Goma in eastern Congo and headed toward the Rwandan border Saturday following the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, the New York Times reported.
Authorities said the volcano, which erupted over the weekend, spewed hot lava and created clouds of noxious fumes. They added that at least 15 people died during the eruption, and more than 170 children are feared to be missing, according to the BBC.
Rwandan authorities reported that more than 3,500 people had crossed the border as of Sunday.
The eruption sparked fears of a repeat of another tragedy that plagued the city of two million inhabitants nearly 20 years ago: In 2002, lava from Mount Nyiragongo devastated Goma, killing hundreds of people and leaving more than 100,000 homeless.
However, by Sunday, Goma residents began returning to their homes after the lava flow came to a standstill in Buhene on the northern edge of the city.
The 11,385-foot mountain has long menaced the surrounding area but the recent eruption has raised questions about why the population did not receive a warning.
An early warning system remains in place at Nyiragongo but the Goma Volcano Observatory that runs the system has been facing problems since the World Bank cut funding for the institution.
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