Volcano Relief Updates moved To
exileinternational.org/volcano-relief
Recent Updates Here Volcano Relief
May 27 — Situation Update
Second eruption possible. Mandatory evacuations started. Join us in prayer.
- Tens of thousands again flee Goma area as an official warn an eruption “could happen very soon and without warning.”
- An eruption under Lake Kivu could release deadly clouds of carbon dioxide and methane.
- Goma has experienced over 200 aftershocks since Mount Nyiragongo erupted Saturday.
- 10 of Goma’s 18 neighborhoods began mandatory evacuation on Thursday (May 27).
- Exile Goma children, staff and families likely evacuating on Friday. Today, teams worked to gather sufficient supplies and plan for safe evacuation of all children, staff and staff families.
‘”An eruption under Lake Kivu could ignite methane gas trapped in the depths of the lake. Such an explosion could destroy parts of Goma and Gisenyi in neighboring Rwanda, according to AP. In addition to methane, Lake Kivu traps huge amounts of carbon dioxide. In 1986, a similar lake — Lake Nyos in Cameroon — released dissolved CO2 into the air after a landslide. The cloud of CO2 asphyxiated an estimated 1,800 people in nearby villages.
Because of Lake Kivu’s size, Sally MacIntyre, a limnologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said an eruption in Lake Kivu “would be completely catastrophic.”
An earthquake, like the ones the area has seen since Mount Nyiragongo erupted last Saturday, could trigger a limnic eruption in Kivu, causing the water to release the trapped gases. Dense clouds of CO2 and methane could displace oxygen in the surrounding air and lead to asphyxiation. In high enough concentrations, the methane could also ignite.”‘ [1][2]
May 26 — Situation Update
All youth from Exile’s programs have been located!
- All youth from Exile’s programs who evacuated have now been located! Thank you for praying!
- Continue praying for the other children in the area who were separated from their parents during evacuation.
- Earthquakes and tremors are decreasing in number, but increasing in intensity. Over 100 tremors and earthquakes since Monday morning. Homes and buildings have collapsed and large cracks are seen on the roads.
- There are fears of food and water shortages. Pray for supplies and food to reach the people.
- Officials warn there could be another eruption.
- Ash and dust fill the air – making it unsafe to breathe without a mask.
- Exile staffs’ homes are overflowing with displaced families they’ve taken in. Pray for their resiliency, energy, and encouragement.
Prayer request from Congo Team:
“Please pray for God’s protection over us. Our hearts are broken. We are running down. It feels like we are at the end of the world.”
The need is great. But as our Congo Country Director, Joseph stated: “There is no challenge greater than God.”
Supplies already being distributed!
- Monday: Our teams assessed the need.
- Tuesday: You started to give & funds were sent.
- Wednesday: Needs are being met! *See video below.
Support for volcano relief efforts and supplies still needed.
100% of your donation will go to volcano relief and needs on the ground. Join us delivering relief and supplies to families who’ve lost everything in the eruption.
May 25 — Situation Update
- One community served by Exile was severely impacted. Staff is still working to locate 36 children who evacuated. *Network outages, power outages, and destroyed roads are hindering this progress.
- Eruption and lava flow have stopped.
- Earthquakes and tremors persist. One reached a 5.1 magnitude on Monday. Tremors struck every 30 minutes on Sunday. Buildings damaged by the tremors.
- 170+ children were separated from their families in the mass evacuation. Please pray they are found.
- 36 deaths reported and hundreds missing.
- ~1,000 homes destroyed and more than 5,000 displaced.
- 17 villages wrecked by lava flow.
Support relief for families, children, and staff impacted by the eruption.
Some families and children we serve have lost their homes and everything they own. Additionally, you will be providing trauma care to the children affected by this disaster.
Donate | Support Volcano Relief
Earthquakes in the area are increasing, buildings are beginning to collapse, and there is a concern for another eruption. Emergency relief funds are being sent. Would you help? 100% of your donation will support emergency response.
Exile teams are on the frontlines helping those affected, taking in families and children, providing trauma care to youth, and ministering in any way they can. They’re running to disaster… not from it. #HEROES
Message from Exile Int’l Country Director in Congo:
“The earthquakes are many today. Food prices are going up and very soon there will be a food shortage because the road has been closed by the lava.
We have families of youth in our Village Programs that have been displaced and homes completely destroyed. Some of them ran away with only the clothes they were wearing and things are getting much much worse.
We are in need of more food supplies, soap, basins, jerrycans for water, mattress, blankets, basic cooking pots, plates, and spoons.
The staff are welcoming people into their homes – people who ran away after the destruction of their homes. We all have full houses and need help with food and supplies. We expect there will be food shortages in our foster families and we need to help them.
Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for the support. Thank you for standing with us and for supporting us.”
— Joseph, Exile Country Director – Congo
Footage of eruption and aftermath
May 22 — Initial report
Mount Nyiragongo Volcano erupted in Congo displacing thousands — including Exile children & staff.
- Multiple Exile programs, including many children and staff, were in the path of the lava flow. Exile Congo staff responded accordingly.
- Mount Nyiragongo in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupted on Saturday (May 22), sending panicked residents fleeing.
- Nyiragongo last erupted in 2002, killing 250 people and making 120,000 people homeless after the lava flowed into Goma.
- More than 20,000 people are homeless and 40 still missing following Saturday evening’s eruption, which sent rivers of lava flowing toward Goma, killing at least 31 and destroying more than 3,000 homes, according to the United Nations.
- The lava from Mount Nyiragongo stopped just 300 meters short of Goma airport.
Early Reporting from Reuters on May 22nd
“Mount Nyiragongo in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, erupted on Saturday, sending panicked residents fleeing.
People grabbed mattresses and other belongings and fled towards the frontier with neighbouring Rwanda as a red glow filled the sky above the city.
Dario Tedesco, a volcanologist in the lakeside city of around 2 million, told Reuters Goma did not appear to be at risk, and lava appeared to be flowing east in the direction of the Rwandan border. Earlier he had said he thought lava might hit Goma, but he later said this was not the case.
“I can see high lava fountains,” Tedesco told Reuters
A United Nations source said a reconnaissance flight by a U.N. helicopter appeared to show the lava was not flowing toward Goma or any major population centres
Nyiragongo last erupted in 2002, killing 250 people and making 120,000 people homeless after the lava flowed into Goma
“The local authorities are currently evaluating the situation with the volcanological observatory in Goma … The population is encouraged to remain calm.
Volcano watchers have been worried that the volcanic activity observed in the last five years at Nyiragongo mirrors that in the years preceding eruptions in 1977 and 2002.
*Reporting by Hereward Holland; Writing by Aaron Ross; via Reuters.