OREANDA-NEWS. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that as a result of the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), about 20 thousand local residents were left homeless, 40 people are considered missing.

The OCHA report says: “There are 31 deaths reported, including 13 during the evacuation from the city ... 40 adults are reported missing, several are hospitalized. Residents of more than 4.5 thousand households (about 20 thousand Congolese) were left homeless ".

Earlier, the deputy head of the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Rafael Tenauda, reported that about 2.5 thousand houses were destroyed due to the volcanic eruption. According to him, at least 5,000 Congolese have been forced to flee their homes.

The media, citing local residents on May 22, reported the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano, located near the city of Goma in the North Kivu province. According to the authorities, the eruption began at 19.00 local time (21.00 Moscow time). As reported by Agence France-Presse, in the city of Goma, located 20 kilometers from the volcano, the power supply was cut off, local residents began to leave their homes and head towards the border with Rwanda. Eyewitnesses reported the smell of sulfur. The North Kivu Civil Defense Forces have reported that evacuations have begun.

As noted by Actualite, on May 23, people began to gradually return to their homes. More than ten earthquakes have been recorded in the area following the volcanic eruption, a government spokesman said.