More than 450,000 people are homeless following a volcanic eruption near the Rwandan-Congolese border January 17.  Flowing lava from Mount Nyiragongo in eastern Congo devastated surrounding towns and villages, with the city of Goma feeling the full brunt of the eruption. The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s North Kivu headquarters located in Goma was among the many hundreds of buildings destroyed in the disaster.

“Half the city [of Goma] has gone to ashes,” reports Manasse Mvukiseye, president of the church’s North Kivu Field. He says the lava burned down the mission headquarters, all the mission buildings, two mission cars, and the homes of many church employees and members. “Most of our [church] members are now refugees,” he says. Families of church administrators made homeless in the disaster are currently staying at the church’s Rwankeri Mission headquarters in neighboring Rwanda.

“The eruption started slowly Monday, January 14, at 5 a.m.,” explains Jean Emmanuel Nlo Nlo, communication director for the Adventist Church in the Africa-Indian Ocean region. “People thought it would soon die as usual. Unfortunately things changed rapidly on Thursday January 17. In addition to smoke, heavy lava came roaring to the central city of Goma at a speed of about 20 kilometers per hour. Those who had not already left the city days earlier rushed to the border in order to take refuge in the nearby Rwandan city of Gisenyi. There are now about 500,000 refugees in Gisenyi, the villages between Gisenyi and Rwankeri, and Rwankeri itself.”  According to Nlo Nlo, no Adventists are reported to be among the more than 40 people killed in the disaster.

As refugees return to Goma, relief agencies are struggling to provide shelter, food, and fresh water. The closure of Goma’s airport due to lava flows has complicated relief efforts.