Goma volcano eruption fear

Many depend on food aid since the January eruption

A second volcano is showing signs that it may erupt in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, say volcano experts in the region.

And they are worried that poisonous gases trapped underneath a nearby lake could be released - with lethal consequences.

This comes nearly six weeks after the eastern town of Goma was devastated by a volcanic eruption.

A church in Goma has already been sealed off because of gas seeping through cracks.

Possible threat

Scientists noticed the "dramatic" rise in seismic activity of the Nyamuragira volcano - 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Goma - on Monday.

"One minute the reading said there was no seismic activity at all, and the next showed dramatic activity," UN consultant Dario Tedesco said.

Vulcanologists expect an eruption in a matter of days or weeks.

Mr Tedesco said a warning was being issued, but that the chief concern was the impact of possible seismic activity under nearby Lake Kivu.

It is feared such activity could upset layers of carbon dioxide and methane gas which have built up in the water over many years.

"If this occurs, the lake could emit these toxic gases, posing a lethal threat to the populations surrounding the lake," Mr Tedesco said in statement.

Cracks open up

Renewed seismic activity was also widening some existing fissures in the area, threatening additional lava and toxic gas flows.

One such crack had been discovered beneath a church - the Kanisa La Mungu - in the centre of Goma, the UN statement said.

Although it was emitting only weak concentrations of carbon dioxide, two women cleaning the church had recently fainted and the site had now been sealed off.

Lava cut the town of Goma in two

Mount Nyiragongo - which lies about 21 km (13 miles) from Goma - erupted on 17 January, sending out flows of molten rock which cut the town in two and destroyed a large part of it.

More than 350,000 people are still dependent on outside aid to eat.

Nyriragongo and Nyamuragira are the only two active volcanoes in the region.

Nyamuragira erupts every one or two years. Its last eruption a year ago did not threaten local people because the lava flowed into the Virunga national park.