DRC: after the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano, Goma takes stock of the disaster
Smoldering ash at sunrise in Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on May 23, 2021, following the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo.
AFP - MOSES SAWASAWA
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
The city of Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, has escaped the worst after lava flows from the Nyiragongo volcano stopped further north of this metropolis.
The DRC government provided, this Sunday evening, the still provisional assessment of the disaster: 15 dead and extensive damage.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa
,
Pascal Mulegwa
The human toll directly linked
to the lava flow
is limited to two deaths, two people charred. But while populations were leaving Goma for the city of Sake, a vehicle ended its course in a ravine, killing nine people; and while the city was under threat from the volcano, inmates attempted to escape from the central prison. Four of them died, shot by the security forces.
As for material damage, it is enormous, explains Patrick Muyaya, government spokesperson.
“
Alongside this human toll, several injured were also counted.
17 villages including Buhene, Katoyi and Majengo were affected by this lava flow, destroying in its passage homes and infrastructure, three health structures, a primary school, a slaughterhouse and water pipes were affected.
It was reported that the road to Rutshuru was damaged resulting in Goma cutting off its food store
.
"
Power cut
Also according to the government spokesperson, several houses were consumed and engulfed by lava in Butare and Buhene, neighborhoods north of the city.
And thugs took advantage
of the situation
: several houses and businesses were looted.
Another consequence of the awakening of Nyiragongo, several districts of Goma are in the dark, without electricity since Saturday evening.
The supply line of the Congolese Water and Electricity Distribution Company (Socodee SA) has been cut.
It is the main source of food for this growing city.
The government dispatched during the night, a delegation of eight ministers headed by that of National Defense, to lead the humanitarian response.
As the lava from the volcano is no longer flowing, people have returned.
Those who left the city to go to Rwanda, to Sake, they are starting to come back little by little.
The rash is gone, it's calm, but what worries us is the tremor now.
We are experiencing a terrible tremor here in Goma!
It terrifies.
Since the day, the tremor is scaring us.
It continues ... Maybe it will calm down, which is why we are on hold and on alert.
Timothée Mwissa Kiense, Mayor of Goma
Alexandra brangeon
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