The UN warned tonight that the Rwandan town of Gisenyi, where hundreds of thousands people are reported to have fled following a volcanic eruption across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was threatened by a lava flow and may have to be evacuated.
The situation around Mount Nyiragongo has deteriorated further since last night following two new eruptions near the town of Goma in DRC, according to the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva.
Two International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) staff who managed a swift visit to Goma this morning confirmed the picture of devastation and reported there was no let up in the lava flow and seismic activity, the ICRC told AFPat its headquarters here. "We can estimate that in the next few hours there will be maybe half a million people on the roads, it's a very likely, plausible estimate," ICRC spokesman Juan Martinez said.
Between 400,000 and 500,000 people were estimated to live in Goma, which lies at the foot of the volcano. Large parts of the town are buried under lava.
At least forty-five people are believed dead.
Mr Martinez said there were massive population movements towards Gisenyi, as well as Ruhengeri and towards Bukavu in the south, as people were told by local radio to evacuate Goma by last night.
The UN said one eruption had opened up a crack one kilometre long in the side of the volcano and three major lava flows were running through Goma and nearby villages. One was also heading for Gisenyi, just ten kilometres from the volcano, the UN's latest situation report added.
"Depending on the speed, all the population in Gisenyi might have to be evacuated," the report said.
"We now have to find where to set up sites for these refugees, but it's huge, 300,000 people surging towards Gisenyi," Mr Martinez warned.
"The problem we have now is that given the uncertainty of the situation, we cannot bring people to Gisenyi if the town has to be evacuated tomorrow," he added.
About 50,000 people are also thought to be marooned on a hill outside Goma, surrounded by two flows of lava, according to the ICRC.
The UN also warned that if the lava flow reached Lake Kivu, "contamination of the lake and possible explosions under the lake are of great concern".
International Red Cross and UN humanitarian teams including volcanologists were being rushed to the region, the agencies said, as they prepared a major relief operation.
A team from the Irish aid agency Concern is on the ground in Goma already and distributions of essential items will begin shortly.
Concern is appealing for €100,000 to fund their emergency response. To support the Congo volcano appeal you can give online at, http://www.concern.net/congo.htmor Call 1850 410 510 (Ireland), 0800 410 510 (UK)· AFP, AP