Mount Nyiragongo: Trail of destruction

Vulcanologists believe that the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo has subsided a week after streams of lava burst from its flanks and engulfed the town of Goma.

Here is how the eruption unfolded:

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	Latest eruption: 1 Rivers of lava pour down the volcano's flanks into a valley to the south, destroying 14 villages 2 Stream of lava flows across the runway at Goma airport, igniting aviation fuel stores 3 Lava reaches Goma, cutting the town in half and causing widespread devastation 4 About 300,000 people flee into neighbouring Rwanda 5 Lava reaches Lake Kivu, raising fears it would disturb methane on the lake bed Previous major eruptions: 1994-96, 1982, 1977 1977: Lava lake at the summit of Nyiragongo suddenly drains from fissures at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour (60 kmh). About 70 people were killed. 1994: A smaller lake reforms in the crater approximately 130 feet (40 m) in diameter.