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The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo: its health effects will be felt for a long time

The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo: its health effects will be felt for a long time

The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, an active volcano in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), led to the deaths of at least 30 people. There could however be longer term health implications for residents of the area. Patrick DMC Katoto, who has studied the health effects of volcanoes in the DRC, provides insights into the health risks that a volcanic eruption brings. PATRICK DE MARIE C. KATOTO, Lecturer, Université catholique de Bukavu What are the main health concerns for communities? Volcanic eruptions can cause catastrophic destruction. They are responsible for human casualties, infrastructural devastation and can pollute the environment…
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Small eruption recorded at second volcano in eastern Congo

Small eruption recorded at second volcano in eastern Congo

A small eruption was detected on Saturday at a volcano in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo but was not believed to threaten any inhabited areas, the government said. The eruption at Mount Nyamuragira comes a week after the nearby Mount Nyiragongo erupted, killing at least 31 people and forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Nyamuragira lies around 25 km (16 miles) north of Goma, a city of about 2 million people, but Mount Nyiragongo stands between them, creating a natural barrier. "It's not in a zone that's inhabited and it's not of a great intensity," government spokesman Patrick…
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Little food and water for Congolese fleeing volcano

Little food and water for Congolese fleeing volcano

DJAFFAR AL KATANTY FAMILIES fleeing a volcano eruption in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo said on Friday they were struggling to find enough food and water as the United Nations called for aid and warned about the risk of cholera. At least 31 people died when Mount Nyiragongo sent a wall of lava spreading towards Goma on Saturday last week, destroying 3,000 homes along the way and cutting a major road used to bring aid to the strife-torn region. The lava stopped just short of the city limits, but thousands more people fled early on Thursday when the government warned…
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