The government in the Democratic Republic of Congo has launched an evacuation plan for the eastern city of Goma after a large volcano erupted.
Fountains of high lava burst from the Mount Nyiragongo into the night sky forming a thick orange cloud over Goma, which has a population of two million.
Thousands of panic-stricken residents were fleeing, many on foot.
The volcano, located 10km (six miles) from Goma, last erupted in 2002 killing 250 people and making 120,000 homeless.
Crowds were seen with mattresses and other belongings, fleeing towards the border with Rwanda to the east, even before the government's announcement, which came several hours after the eruption started.
Rwandan authorities said about 3,000 people already had officially crossed from Goma. The country's state media said they would be accommodated in schools and places of worship. Other residents fled to higher grounds to the west of the city.
A new fracture opened up on the volcano, enabling lava to flow south towards Goma and reach the airport, on the eastern edge of the city. Electricity was out across large areas, and one highway that connects Goma with the city of Beni had already been engulfed by the lava.

A new fracture opened up on the volcano, enabling lava to flow south towards Goma and reach the airport, on the eastern edge of the city. Electricity was out across large areas, and one highway that connects Goma with the city of Beni had already been engulfed by the lava.
"There is a smell of sulphur. In the distance you can see giant flames coming out of the mountain," resident Carine Mbala told AFP news agency.
An official from Virunga National Park, where the volcano is located, said in a note to staff that the eruption was similar to the one in 2002 and that everyone near the airport should "evacuate without delay".
Earlier, Communications Minister Patrick Muyay said on Twitter that the government was discussing "urgent measures" after the prime minister convened an emergency meeting in the capital, Kinshasa.
People have been advised to stay calm, but some complained about the lack of information from the authorities amid conflicting accounts circulating on social media.

The UN peacekeeping mission in the country, Monusco, said it was carrying out reconnaissance flights over the city.
"There is a smell of sulphur. In the distance you can see giant flames coming out of the mountain," resident Carine Mbala told AFP news agency.
An official from Virunga National Park, where the volcano is located, said in a note to staff that the eruption was similar to the one in 2002 and that everyone near the airport should "evacuate without delay".
Earlier, Communications Minister Patrick Muyay said on Twitter that the government was discussing "urgent measures" after the prime minister convened an emergency meeting in the capital, Kinshasa.
People have been advised to stay calm, but some complained about the lack of information from the authorities amid conflicting accounts circulating on social media.
The UN peacekeeping mission in the country, Monusco, said it was carrying out reconnaissance flights over the city.
"We're already in a total psychosis," resident Zacharie Paluku told the Associated Press (AP) news agency. "Everyone is afraid; people are running away. We really don't know what to do."
🚨🚨Activité volcanique aux alentours de Goma: la MONUSCO fait des vols de reconnaissance.
— MONUSCO (@MONUSCO) May 22, 2021
La lave ne semble pas se diriger vers la ville de Goma. Nous restons en alerte. pic.twitter.com/JQmz7v16Ne
Mount Nyiragongo is one of the world's more active volcanoes but there were concerns that its activity had not been properly observed by the Goma Volcano Observatory, since the World Bank cut funding amid allegations of corruption.
In a report on 10 May, the observatory warned that seismic activity at Nyiragongo had increased.
Last year, the observatory's director, Katcho Karume, told the BBC World Service's Science in Action that the volcano's lava lake had been filling up quickly, increasing the chances of an eruption in the next few years. But he also warned that an earthquake could trigger a disaster earlier.
The volcano's deadliest eruption happened in 1977, when more than 600 people died.
Latest Stories
-
20 dead including children in accident on Tsibu and Peki-Adzokoe road
3 mins -
BOST admits to buying 18 iPhones for staff but contests amount involved
15 mins -
Harvard University inaugurates Claudine Gay as school’s first Black president
34 mins -
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa: ‘Exposing the corrupt Frontiers cover-up’
2 hours -
Adansi Travels celebrates decade of excellence with a prestigious CIMG Award
2 hours -
Ghana CEO Awards: FeDems Limited’s Felix Atsrim wins best CEO in engineering
2 hours -
Newage Agric Solutions Limited emerges as the best agric company in Ghana
2 hours -
The Multimedia Group wins big at 34th CIMG Awards
3 hours -
34th CIMG Awards honours 56 individuals and companies; David Afflu adjudged ‘Marketing Man of Year’
4 hours -
NSMQ wins CIMG-New Media Campaign of the Year 2022
4 hours -
NSMQ wins CIMG TV Programme of the Year 2022
5 hours -
AI will not replace health professionals – WHO
6 hours -
BOST clears air on ‘iPhone 13 Pro Max’ purchase allegations
6 hours -
SHS science students population up by 25%; will double in 2024 due to STEM policies – Akufo-Addo
7 hours -
BNXN, aka Buju, on his debut album and name change
7 hours