Volcano Journal Entry
Danger of Further Eruption in Congo (February 1, 2002)
False-color satellite image shows bands of lava (in red) flowing from Nyiragongo volcano towards Goma, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu.Image by Mike Abrams, NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team.
Volcanologists studying the recent eruption the Nyiragongo volcano in Congo warn that danger of another eruption in the region around Goma remains high. The danger zone also includes Lower Gisenyi in neighboring Rwanda, where about 250,000 residents of Goma fled after the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo.
Tens of thousands of people have streamed back to Goma, which was cut in half by fiery lava flows following the eruption on January 17. The United Nations World Food Program and other international relief groups are working hard to bring food and emergency supplies to about 400,000 people in the region.
This week, more ash showered on Goma. Scientists say it was likely from the collapse of Nyiragongo's inner crater. Small earthquakes continue to rumble across the region. They are caused by the movement of gases and magma below the surface. Gases detected above ground in Goma this week are from decomposing living things trapped under the hardening lava and from gasoline that spilled from exploded storage tanks.
United Nations relief officials urged Goma residents that fled not to return to rebuild their city yet. They suggested instead that people seek higher ground further to the east inside Rwanda or at Sake in western Congo.
The Nyiragongo volcano is part of the East Africa rift zone. Sections of Earth's crust are moving apart along the rifts as hot magma bubbles up from below the surface.
