Volcano alert in Cameroon

Previous eruptions have destroyed homes and farms

Residents living near Mount Cameroon have been put on evacuation alert after an increase in lava activity since an eruption on Sunday.

Scientists monitoring the situation said the lava, which was flowing at 10 metres per hour when it first erupted, has now increased its speed to 20-25 metres per hour.

A lead point of the lava is only 5km from Bokwango village which is on the outskirts of the South-West Province capital, Buea.

On Wednesday, South-West Province Governor Peter Acham Cho called on residents of the region, notably of Bokwango, to expect instructions to leave at any time.

'Dangerous situation'

A victim of the volcano, Emmanuel Suh, who injured his eye when a crater exploded on Tuesday told Reuters news agency the situation was highly dangerous.

"Contrary to what many people think, there is still intense volcanic activity on the mountain," he said.

Poisonour gas from Lake Nyos killed 1,746 when it erupted in 1986

Last year scientists studying Mount Cameroon identified 12 vents which were spewing lava, with some intermittently throwing up lava fountains when the volcano erupted.

Several homes and farms in the area were destroyed by lava which cut a swathe in the countryside.

In 1986, poisonous gas erupted from Lake Nyos, located on the same fault line as Mount Cameroon, killing 1,746 people.