Overall Red alert Volcanic eruption for Nyiragongo
in Democratic Republic of Congo

Event summary

RED alert: The Nyiragongo Volcanic eruption is unlikely to require external humanitarian assistance based on the exposed population and coping capacity.

GDACS ID VO 1000023
Name: Nyiragongo
Lat/Lon: -1.52 , 29.25
Event Date: 04 Jun 2021 UTC
Exposed Population 30km: About 1330000 people within 30km
Exposed Population 100km: About 11140000 people within 100km
Max Volc. Explosivity Index VEI: 2
Population Exposure Index PEI: 5
Inserted at: 31 May 2021 06:14 UTC

GDACS Score

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Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
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Democratic Republic of Congo – Volcanic eruption update (ECHO 25 May 2021)Tue, 25 May 2021 16:41

  • The explosive and effusive activity of Mount Nyiragongo continues. A south-moving ash plume of 6,100 m has been recorded on 25 May. Seismic activities have been occurring and have also been recorded in the city of Goma, 15 km away from the volcano.
  • The eruption from the flank of Mount Nyiragongo on 22-23 May, created a lava stream that finally spared Goma, but destroyed four villages north of the city. At least 15 people have reportedly died, more injured, and approximately 30,000 have been displaced. Around 8,000 have fled to neighbouring Rwanda.
  • The lava flow has destroyed some of Goma’s water infrastructure, leaving around half a million people without water. There is an increased risk of a cholera outbreak. The affected population also requires psycho-social support. Authorities and humanitarian organisations are providing first assistance to the most affected. The Congolese Prime Minister called for an emergency meeting of the national committee for humanitarian coordination and relief organisations to lead the humanitarian response.
  • The European Union, including its humanitarian team based in Goma, continues to monitor the situation closely. The European Commission's emergency mapping service Copernicus () was activated on 23 May to support the damage assessment. 
Democratic Republic of Congo – Volcanic eruption update (ECHO 26 May 2021)Wed, 26 May 2021 15:54

  • The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, located 15 km north of Goma City, is still ongoing and significant seismic activity have been occurring in the area of the volcano causing some damage to buildings in Goma and in neighbouring Rwanda, notably in the Rubavu district (also affected by lava and many buildings have collapsed).
  • According to UN agencies, the number of deaths has risen to 32, at least 20,952 people are displaced and 40 people are still missing. In addition, the airports of Goma and Bukavu (100 km south-west of Goma) remain closed due to the ashfall. 
  • National authorities and humanitarian partners are still assessing damages and starting to conduct response activities. Main identified needs are shelter, access to clean water and sanitation, food, mental health and child protection (as many children have been separated from their parents).
Democratic Republic of Congo – Volcanic eruption, update (ECHO 28 May 2021)Fri, 28 May 2021 16:17

  • High seismicity and ground deformation due to the activity of Mount Nyiragongo are still occurring in the Goma area. At least 140 earthquakes with magnitude up to 4.8 M have been recorded in the area, including in neighbouring Rwanda, since the volcano started erupting.
  • Authorities gave order for the evacuation of parts of Goma city on 27 May, but people from other parts are also moving or planning to move, given the seismic activity. In total an estimated one million people are concerned. In addition, people are also moving towards the cities of Bukavu and Saké as well as to Rubavu district just across the border in Rwanda.
  • Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda and humanitarian aid organisations are scaling up their efforts for emergency assistance to the displaced who are in urgent need of shelter, food, water, sanitation, hygiene, health services, psychosocial support, protection, etc.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service (EMSR513) was activated on 23 May and four maps have been produced so far. 
Democratic Republic of Congo – Volcanic eruption, update (ECHO 31 May 2021)Mon, 31 May 2021 15:47

  • The number of earthquakes detected in the area of Nyiragongo volcano and the deformation rates have decreased slightly since 29 May 2021. However, seismic activity and ground deformation continue to indicate the presence of magma under the urban area of Goma with an extension under Lake Kivu.
  • An estimated 415,700 people have been displaced across several localities in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and across the border in Rwanda.
  • Authorities and humanitarian organisations are providing help for those most affected. The rehabilitation of the damaged water supply system in Goma is ongoing. The risk of a cholera outbreak remains. Twelve suspected cholera cases were reported in the health centre of Saké between 27 and 29 May. Saké hosts more than 56,000 displaced persons and most suspected cholera cases are among them.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Mapping Service () was activated on 23 May and seven maps have been produced so far.
  • On 29 May, the European Commission allocated EUR 2 million in emergency humanitarian funding for those affected by the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo.
Volcano Nyiragongo - Copernicus EMS activation (EMSR513)Sun, 23 May 2021 02:18

EMSR513: Copernicus Emergency Management Service has been activated
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

The Smithsonian/USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report provides information about global volcanism on a weekly basis. Latest Nyiragongo report has been published on 26 May 2021 11:31.
At around 1815 on 22 May seismicity at Nyiragongo spiked, around the same time observers reported at least two fissures opening on the lower S flanks, NW of Kibati (8 km SSE) and Rukoko (10 km S). Lava from the first fissure, originating near the Shaheru crater, flowed E over a major road (N2) and then S. The second fissure produced lava flows that traveled S, overtaking and setting fire to many houses and structures in communities north of Goma, just W of Monigi (12 km S). Video posted on social media showed lava fountaining from the fissures, a glowing red sky, and residents running through the streets. About 1,000 homes and buildings were destroyed and about 25,000 people were displaced. The lava cut off electricity and water supplies to some areas. The flow may have been as wide as 1 km and stopped 1.25 km from the Goma International Airport, in the SE part of the city, during 22-23 May. According to the Toulouse VAAC ash plumes may have initially rose to 13.7 km (45,000 ft) a.s.l., though subsequent estimates put the ash plumes mostly at 6.1-9.1 km (20,000-30,000 ft) a.s.l. during 22-23 May. Satellite images and local scientists indicated that the summit lava lake had drained before the flank fissures had opened, but began refilling afterward; collapses in the summit crater were the likely cause of the ash plumes. Initial reports indicated that about 32 people had died: about 12 from lava and gas asphyxiation while crossing lava flows, and most of the rest from accidents while fleeing. Several people, including many children, remained missing, though families were continuing to be reunited. Seismic data during 22-24 May showed events seemingly propagating from the summit area to the S into Lake Kivu. Several strong earthquakes shook buildings in Goma, causing some to collapse and injure people; a news article noted that tremor was felt about every 30 minutes beginning around noon on 23 May. Both airports in Goma closed for security reasons. A M 5.1 earthquake with a hypocenter beneath Lake Kivu was recorded at 1037 on 24 May. The VAAC noted that ashfall around the volcano and in surrounding towns was visible in satellite data. Cracks a few 10s of centimeters wide opened in different parts of the city on 25 May. The cracks stretched for several hundred meters from the northern city limit down to the lake, and were nearly 100 m long near the airport. Some cracks were hot and emitting gasses, and some were flaming. Ash plumes rose to 6.1 km (20,000 ft) a.s.l. and drifted S; ground-based reports indicated ash in the atmosphere above Goma. Seismicity remained intense on 25 May with more than 130 earthquakes between M 2 and 5 recorded in a 24-hour period. News reports indicated hundreds of damaged buildings in neighboring Rwanda. Sources: Agence France-Presse (AFP),Agence France-Presse (AFP),Agence France-Presse (AFP),GeoRiskA,IGIHE,Reuters,Simon Carn,Washington Post
See the detail here

Latest media headlines

Articles: 1746 | About casualties: 27 | Last hour: 0

RDC-Nyiragongo: 1 340 enfants non-accompagnés identifiés depuis le déb ... Mon, 07 Jun 2021 23:47:00 +0200.

1 340 enfants non-accompagnés ont été identifiés depuis le début de la crise liée à l’éruption du Nyiragongo, dont 1 038 déjà réunifiés avec leurs familles, selon le Fonds des Nations unies pour l’enfance (UNICEF). La division provinciale d
...(more)
RDC-Nyiragongo : le détournement des salaires des agents depuis 2013, ... Mon, 07 Jun 2021 23:47:00 +0200.

Les chercheurs de l’Observatoire volcanologique de Goma (OVG) ont adressé un mémorandum au Président de la République, Félix Tshisekedi, à la suite de l’éruption soudaine du volcan de Nyiragongo, samedi 22 mai dernier. Ce mémo énumère les p
...(more)
RDC : 20 millions USD nécessaires pour l’assistance humanitaire après ... Mon, 07 Jun 2021 22:47:00 +0200.

Il faut « 20 millions de dollars, en général, pour l’ensemble des besoins » après l’éruption du volcan Nyiragongo survenue dans la nuit du 22 au 23 mai 2021 au nord de la ville de Goma, dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo (RDC
...(more)
Volcan Nyiragongo en RDC: «retour progressif» des déplacésMon, 07 Jun 2021 22:16:00 +0200.

Le Premier ministre de la République démocratique du Congo a annoncé, lundi 7 juin 2021, un « retour progressif » des dizaines de milliers de déplacés qui ont quitté Goma dans l’Est du pays après une éruption du volcan Nyiragongo le 22 mai
...(more)

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: UNOSAT (1), EMSR (2), EC-JRC (32), (2), INGV (2), WMO (1), INFORM (2),