Death toll from the volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in the province of North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 31.
Only 15 people had been confirmed dead by authorities on Sunday evening. On Tuesday evening however, the Ministry of Communication and Media said the death toll now stands at 31.
In a tweet, the Ministry said that majority of the victims were killed by the lava while others suffocated from the toxic gas which emanates, in particular, from incandescent lava.
The Ministry further noted that the identification of the dead is in progress. At least seven people were also injured when a two-story house collapsed, following the earthquake in the Himbi neighbourhood on Tuesday morning.
The earthquake, which measured 5.3 magnitudes by the Rwandan Seismic Monitor, also destroyed houses and roads in Rubavu district in neighbouring Rwanda. The earthquake was the largest of over 100 tremors that have followed the eruption on Saturday of Mount Nyiragongo volcano.
Goma city experienced 119 tremors on Monday, but the intensity has started to decrease, Kasereka Mahinda, scientific director at the Goma Volcano Observatory revealed on Tuesday.
