Mount Nyiragongo, a volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, erupted over the weekend, lighting up the night sky and sending rivers of rocky lava down its slopes toward Goma, a city with nearly 2 million residents. Tens of thousands of people fled from their homes overnight. The flow of lava halted on the outskirts of Goma the following day, damaging several outlying villages and destroying more than 500 homes, but stopping short of the city limits. At least 20 people have reportedly lost their lives, including five who died from inhaling toxic fumes and several others who were killed in accidents that happened during the chaotic evacuation. Residents also returned the following day to survey the damage and search for loved ones.
Photos: Lava Flows From Mount Nyiragongo
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![A person stands near the shore of a lake at night, observing a glow and rising smoke from a lava flow in the distance.]()
Read moreA view toward the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on May 22, 2021, seen from Tchegera Island, outside Goma, on Lake Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo #
Alex Miles / AFP / Getty -
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![Lava flows between buildings.]()
Read moreFlowing lava from Mount Nyiragongo is seen between buildings in Goma on May 22, 2021. #
Enoch David via Reuters -
![A person throws a bucket of water on the side of a burning building.]()
Read moreA person throws water on a burning building after the lava flow set it ablaze on May 22, 2021, in Goma. #
Enoch David via Reuters -
![A line of people walk along a street, carrying belongings, at night.]()
Read moreGoma residents are seen leaving the city following the sudden volcanic activity of Mount Nyiragongo on May 22, 2021. #
Guerchom Ndebo / AFP / Getty -
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![A person stands in front of a wall of glowing lava at night.]()
Read moreA person stands in front of lava from the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in Buhene, on the outskirts of Goma, in the early hours of Sunday, May 23, 2021. #
Justin Kabumba / AP -
![People gather in a street at night near United Nations soldiers.]()
Read morePeacekeepers from the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo stand guard as civilians gather with their belongings following volcanic activity at Mount Nyiragongo, near Goma, on May 22, 2021. #
Olivia Acland / Reuters -
![People lie down and sleep on a sidewalk at night.]()
Read moreCongolese people who fled Goma sleep with their belongings on a street near the border in Gisenyi, Rwanda, on May 23, 2021. #
Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP / Getty -
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![Piles of volcanic rock surround damaged, smoldering buildings.]()
Read moreThis view shows a structure still standing, surrounded by the lava flow from the previous day's eruption, on May 23, 2021. #
Moses Sawasawa / AFP / Getty -
![A wide strip of dark volcanic rock protrudes into a neighborhood, seen from above.]()
Read moreThe lava flow, seen from above, cuts through Buhene, north of Goma, on May 24, 2021. #
Justin Kabumba / AP -
![Steaming volcanic rock surrounds buildings, seen from above.]()
Read moreVolcanic rocks engulf buildings in Bushara village on May 23, 2021. #
Justin Katumwa / AFP / Getty -
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![People climb on a large pile of volcanic rock.]()
Read morePeople climb on the cooling edge of the lava flow in Goma on May 23, 2021. #
Justin Kabumba / AP -
![Men walk past still-smoking volcanic rocks.]()
Read moreMen walk past still-smoking volcanic rocks in Goma on May 23, 2021. #
Guerchom Ndebo / AFP / Getty -
![People walk on a road, engulfed in smoke and fumes from the nearby lava flow.]()
Read moreResidents walk through smoke from smoldering lava in Goma on May 23, 2021. #
Moses Sawasawa / AFP / Getty -
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![Lava flows past buildings.]()
Read moreThe front of a lava flow moves through a residential district on May 23, 2021, in Goma. #
Guerchom Ndebo / AFP / Getty -
![Residents look through the rubble of destroyed homes, with a large lava flow nearby.]()
Read moreResidents look through the rubble of destroyed homes near Goma on May 23, 2021. #
Olivia Acland / Reuters -
![Volcanic rocks surround a house.]()
Read moreLava from Mount Nyiragongo surrounds a house in Goma on May 23, 2021. #
Moses Sawasawa / AFP / Getty -
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![An aerial view of smoking lava flow amid a village]()
Read moreAn aerial view of the lava flow, taken by a drone on May 23, 2021 #
Djaffar Al Katanty / Reuters -
![People take pictures near lava.]()
Read moreA man uses his cellphone to take pictures of destroyed homes on May 23, 2021. #
Djaffar Al Katanty / Reuters -
![Volcanic rocks sit piled up among several buildings.]()
Read moreLava from the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo cuts through Buhene, north of Goma, on May 24, 2021. #
Justin Kabumba / AP -
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![Damaged buildings sit among rocky lava.]()
Read moreBuilding debris sits among smoldering volcanic rocks on May 23, 2021, in Goma. #
Guerchom Ndebo / AFP / Getty -
![A close-up view of lava, with red-hot material visible in cracks, among rocky crust]()
Read moreA closer view of the lava, seen on May 23, 2021 #
Moses Sawasawa / AFP / Getty -
![People walk on still-smoking lava rocks.]()
Read morePeople gather on cooling volcanic rocks, following the overnight eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, in Goma on May 23, 2021. #
Justin Kabumba / AP -
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![People carry belongings while walking in the street.]()
Read morePeople who fled to Rwanda during the overnight eruption of Mount Nyiragongo return to Goma, Congo, in the early hours of May 23, 2021. #
Justin Kabumba / AP -
![An aerial view shows the lava flow among village houses.]()
Read moreAn aerial view shows the lava flow among houses in Bushara village on May 23, 2021. #
Justin Katumwa / AFP / Getty
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