Tourism not threatened by DRC volcanic eruption

KIGALI - Tourism in the Volcanoes National Park is not threatened by the eruption of Mt. Nyamuragira located inside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to Rwanda Development Board (RDB) Tourism and Conservation office, the effects of the eruption of Nyamuragira on Saturday which caused lava to flow towards Virunga National Park, has not raised any concerns on the Rwandan side. In an interview with The New Times, Fidele Ruzigandekwe, the Director of Conservation at RDB said that the eruption has not triggered any concerns but observed that the situation is being monitored as the lava continues to flow. “So far we do not have any concerns, the Volcano is a bit deep inside the DRC but we know it is the same ecosystem and we have to keep monitoring the situation to see if there will be an impact,” Ruzigandekwe said. Virunga National Park in the DRC and the Volcanoes National Park on the Rwandan side are home to the World’s only surviving Mountain Gorillas. Mount Nyamuragira is Africa’s most active Volcano and reports from DRC indicate that the eruption on Saturday has threatened rare chimpanzees and other wildlife species that inhabit the park in the eastern DRC but no movements towards the Rwandan side have been sighted so far. “There are no visible movements so far. No animal movements have been registered but we will keep monitoring to see if anything happens,” added Ruzigandekwe. According to a report from the Congolese Wildlife Authority, Mt Nyamuragira spewed lava off its southern flank after erupting prompting authorities and United Nations to monitor the park which is a United Nations World Heritage Site. Nyamuragira is the continent’s most active volcano, with 42 eruptions since 1885. Its most recent eruption ended in December 2006. Ends