23.05.2021

Volcanic Eruption Threatens Goma

Around 25 km north of the eastern Congolese city of Goma, a volcano erupted on the evening of May 22, 2021. Hot ash rained down on the city, and the sky overhead turned red. The UEM member, the Baptist Church in Central Africa from Goma, DRC reports “On the evening of 22 to 23 May 2021, the city of Goma fell under a huge panic related to the volcanic eruption on the north side of the city. It was around 6 p.m. that the population of the Kibati County were surprised by a lava flow from the Nyiragongo volcano on the side of the Virunga National Park, heading towards the Congo-Rwanda border. It all started with ash rain in the Kibati County, before a huge noise and an earthquake was felt on this side of the Park”.

The inhabitants simultaneously abandoned the activities they were attending (shopping, petty trade in markets, etc.) to return to their respective homes. At this point, the sky over the northern part of Goma was already pink, proof that there was indeed an eruption, but without any details on the identity of the volcano whether it was Nyamuragira or Nyiragongo.

Population has been advised to stay calm, but some complained about the lack of information amid conflicting information circulating on social media. The UN peacekeeping mission in the country, Monusco, started carrying out reconnaissance flights over Goma city, to have details on which volcano erupted and the damage caused. Some photos and videos which are circulating are showing terribly damaged homes. "The entire population is afraid; people started to run away, really not knowing what to do”, writes Mrs. Christine Musongya, the Church co-worker of the UEM member, the Baptist Church in Central Africa (CBCA). 

A research center in Goma, Pole Institute reports to UEM that “The territory of Nyiragongo is severely affected because 3 of its seven groups have lost some of their villages. The information that we have cross-checked from several sources (local administration, civil society, inhabitants who are direct victims) confirm that the groups and villages in the territory of Nyiragongo affected by this disaster are: 1. Kibati group: Kipopo and Bukanda-Kyabwato villages 2. Buvira group: Kiguri; Bushwaga and Vubiro 3. Munigi Group: Bushagara / Bushwarura Villages, Buhima; Bushara; Kabaya; Kasenyi; Rukoko and Ngangi 1 / Buhene”.

Thousands of people started to flee, some from the Eastern towards the Western part of the Goma city and others towards Gisenyi, Rwanda where the government opened the boarder at 1 h am. In Rwanda, about 3.000 displaced people are accommodated in schools and the regional stadium. Displaced people were carrying some of their belongings. A warning was given by an official from Virunga National Park, near the volcano, saying that the eruption was similar to 2002 and that everyone near Goma airport should evacuate without delay".

The inhabitants of Goma and Nyiragongo who have temporarily moved to the western part of the city are back. In Nyiragongo, for example, several households have lost everything, and fear a precarious humanitarian situation in the days to come.The CBCA Secretary, Mr Kambale Christian writes: “For security reasons, during the night we started evacuating the office documents towards the Western part of Goma, hoping it will be more safer." The former head of the CBCA church and former UEM co-worker, Rev. Dr. Kakule Molo shared: "The volcanic eruption started yesterday at 19 h. We were forced to leave our home as did many others. We thank God that the eruption has now stopped before reaching the heart of the Goma city. We are now back home hoping that the worst has passed”.

The CBCA sent an emergency request to support the population urgent needs facing the disaster: food for survival, drinking water, basic household items, temporary shelters in unreeled neighbourhoods, psychosocial support, restoration of the electricity system and water system, Support for host families for better care for the displaced, rapid rehabilitation of school infrastructure to allow children to return to school when the government authorizes, Supporting women's economic activities to feed their families, etc.

Please pray for the people in Goma and Rwanda who lost their housing through the volcanic eruption. Pray that the volcano eruption stops and that an emergency support to people in need by well-organized and reaches the sufferers.

Rev. Dr. John Wesley Kabango (Executive Secretary Africa Region of UEM)