Corrugated iron is seen among smouldering lava in the aftermath of the eruption, while people flee the city of Goma over the weekend. Photo: GUERCHOM NDEBO/AFP via Getty Images
At least 15 people have died and hundreds of homes have been destroyed after a volcano erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Lava flowed from Mount Nyiragongo on Saturday as the volcano erupted, turning the night sky red.The city of Goma was largely saved from destruction as the lava flow stopped short of the city limits, the Associated Press reported.But the district of Buhene was hit. Pictures taken on the outskirts of Goma showed buildings destroyed by still-smouldering lava flows.Buhene is where Ernestine Kabuo said she was forced to leave her sick husband behind because she was unable to carry him out of the house, she told the Reuters news agency."I said to myself: I can't go alone, we've been married for the best and for the worst," she said."I went back to at least try to get him out but couldn't. I ran away and he got burned inside. I don't know what to do. I curse this day."However, according to Unicef, the UN children’s agency, up to 30,000 people had left their homes as the volcano erupted, most of whom are making their way home now, amid fears of damaged homes and water and electricity shortages.Nyiragongo is considered one of the world’s most active and dangerous volcanoes. In 2002 an eruption killed more than 200 people and left more than 120,000 homeless.
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