Virunga volcano erupting, Gorillas not threatened

03/01/2010 19:59:18 Volcano erupts in Congo gorilla park
January 2010. Mount Nyamulagira, situated in Congo's Virunga National Park and one of Africa's most active volcanoes, erupted in the early hours of 2nd January 2010, according to the Congolese Wildlife Authority. The volcano is 10,033 feet (3,058 metres) high and lies just 15 miles north of the densely populated city of Goma. The eruption started with a huge bang before the lava started being ejected from the crater, according to eye-witness reports from park rangers.

 

Mount Nyamulagira, situated in Congo's Virunga National Park is one of Africa's most active volcanoes.

Careful monitoring
"A volcanic eruption in the park is a source of great concern and we are working closely with the relevant authorities to assess the risk and to take appropriate measures. Rangers have been deployed to the area to monitor the flow of lava and will be reporting back hourly," said Emmanuel de Merode, Director of Virunga National Park.

Humans and chimps in danger - Gorillas OK
The Congolese Wildlife Authority's primary concern is the threat to human settlements in this densely populated area. In addition, lava flow is likely to destroy habitat occupied by an endangered population of about 40 chimpanzees and other wildlife that is prevalent on the volcano's lower slopes. Fortunately no mountain gorillas live on the flanks of the Nyamulagira volcano; Congo's 200 critically endangered mountain gorillas live on the flanks of the Mikeno volcano.

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"I was woken at 3.45 by a loud bang, which I first thought was the sound of war. I thought there was fighting again near our park station", said Innocent Mburanumwe, warden for the southern sector of Virunga National Park. "Then I saw the mountain was on fire with sparks flying. We could see that we were not in immediate danger here at Rumangabo, but there are many people who live to the south of the volcano, where the lava is heading."

Mount Nyamulagira (also spelled Nyamuragira) is situated in Virunga National Park (North Kivu province) 15 miles (25 kilometers) north of Lake Kivu and the city of Goma (with 600,000 inhabitants) and is 3,058 meters (10,033 feet) high. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Africa, registering over 35 eruptions since 1882. The last eruption was in 2006. It is one of eight volcanoes found on the borders of DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. It is a shield volcano, gently sloping in the shape of a flattened dome and built almost exclusively of lava flows.