Fire and lava spew from the top of the volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The most active volcano in Africa, it began erupting Sunday night and is threatening residents near Virunga National Park.
(SOUNDBITE) (French) VULCANOLOGIST, KASEREKA, SAYING:
"At this stage, what could worry the population is the ash fall. The lava flow is currently in the park, it's destroying the environment. The ecosystem is also being destroyed, animals will flee. Things are moving fast, evolving very rapidly. In less than 24 hours, there is already 15 kilometres, it's moving fast."
Villagers fear they will have to leave their homes if the eruptions continue.
(SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) LOCAL RESIDENT, DESPERENCE VUMILIA, SAYING:
"We are very afraid because of the eruption. It's too much, we are afraid to sleep. We go out and look at it and it's still erupting."
The volcano is near the country's eastern border with Rwanda and is also close to neighbors Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania.
Jessica Gray, Reuters
