Volcanic eruption: Chérubin Okende orders the temporary closure of Goma and Kavumu / Bukavu airports

Kinshasa, May 23^th, 2021 (CPA).- The Minister of Transport, communication routes and opening up, Chérubin Okende Senga, on Sunday ordered the temporary closure of the airports of Goma (North Kivu) and Kavumu / Bukavu (South Kivu), during a meeting of the Task Force created today, made up of experts from his ministry, to assess the current situation in Goma, capital of North Kivu province following the eruption of Nyiragongo volcano. It emerges from these exchanges that an aerial reconnaissance launched since Saturday, by the volcano logical observatory of Goma (OVG) with the support of the helicopters of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) continues. The situation has evolved positively this Sunday, in that the volcanic ash is not reported on the surface of the track or in the parking areas. In addition, Cherubin Okende Senga instructed the Civil Aviation Authority and the Airways Authority to take urgent measures to secure the planes which were to fly over the airspace of the Goma terminal area. According to task force experts, the lava stopped about 2km north of the threshold of runway 17, in the Buhene district / city of Goma. EPST minister worried about the situation of school-age children The Minister of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education (EPST), Prof. Tony Mwaba Kazadi said he was dismayed by the mass displacement of children of school age, caused by the eruption of the Nyrangongo volcano. According to sources close to the ministry, Professor Tony Mwaba expressed his compassion to the students and teaching staff in this part of the country. “It was with bitterness that I learned of the eruption of the Nyrangongo volcano. My thoughts are with the students and the teachers, ”he said. However, the Minister of EPST pledged to closely monitor the situation so that the school calendar is not disrupted. ACP/