Congo: Volcano Could Wipe Out an Entire City

This is crazy!!! There should be public acknowledgment from the government, public service advisements and relocation options for these people. If some choose to still stay, well that's on them, but the government should make efforts to inform the people of the dangers they are living with. I would how many governments in the world would hide such information from their people...probably more than I would like to think


Volcano could wipe out city

Goma - The Nyiragongo volcano that looms over Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could soon wipe out the city, said a leaked risk analysis report by volcano experts.

Provincial authorities in Nord-Kivu have prohibited public release of the report that recommends the city be moved to avoid the fallout of another volcanic eruption, possibly within two years.

"The risk of a new eruption of Nyiragongo is clear, with a 13% chance that the city would survive," the report states.

In January 2002, 400 000 people were evacuated when a lava flow from the volcano destroyed almost 80% of the buildings in the city near the Rwandan border. More than 40 people were reportedly killed and the airport was demolished.

"It is absurd and surprising to suppress such information that, given in time, can help the population take useful steps," a specialist said.

Here are some captivating images and info from the 2002 eruption
styx.esrin.esa.it...
www.disasterscharter.org...


[edit on 8-22-2005 by worldwatcher]

It's even worse than that. That volcano had a lava lake continuously active from 1927 to 1977, when it spilled out with catastrophic results.
www.volcano.si.edu...

Disturbing enough, but the volcano which has a history of highly fluid lava flows and a VEI of 1, has been continuously active with a lava lake since 2002.

The history:
link


www.vo lcano.si.edu

And on the other side of the valley is Africa's most active volcano, which is also known for lava lake flows, Nyamuragiga.



[edit on 22-8-2005 by berglion]

(mod edit to reduce length of long links)

[edit on 23-8-2005 by pantha]

thanks for the links berglion

I hope this release of information leads to officials warning the people who live around the volcano to move.

I don't understand why the gov't would not warn the people. What purpose does it serve to withhold this information?

I agree. They should inform them and let them make their own decisions. I guess it is a reality check in a way that some people trust and believe so blindly in their governments.

Then again, they probably feel that way about us too.