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Congo's Devastating Volcano

By Kathryn R. Hoffman

Last week, as rain poured down on scorched earth, people tried to return to their homes in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Many found they had nowhere to go. Their city was buried under a layer of hardened lava.

On January 17, Mount Nyiragongo, a volcano near Goma, erupted, sending rivers of red-hot lava into the city. The eruption lasted three days and triggered a wave of earthquakes.

The eruption was the worst that Africa has seen in 25 years. Businesses in Goma were destroyed, and 10,000 families were left homeless. Although the volcano struck without warning, tens of thousands of residents escaped into the neighboring country of Rwanda. Less than 100 people died in the disaster, but many now face the threat of disease.

Congo's ambassador to the U.S., Faida Mitifu, said last week that to recover, the country would need as much as $1 million a day for several days. Many countries have begun to help, sending money, food and supplies into the area.

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