Public Announcement

On January 17, the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo caused major lava flows throughout the city of Goma and surrounding regions. The Department of State warns American citizens to avoid travel to the areas of North Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo near the city of Goma and Lake Kivu.

Most residents have fled Goma across the Rwandan border to the east or towards the cities of Masisi and Sake to the west. Residents in the area face potential health and safety problems due to fires in the city, and lack of potable water, food or shelter. While currently calm, Lake Kivu is potentially unsafe due to possible gas emissions and follow-on volcanic eruptions. Humanitarian organizations are mobilizing to assist potentially thousands of evacuees.

American citizens who plan to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo should register with the U.S. Embassy and obtain updated information on travel and security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Consular Section in Kinshasa may be reached at tel. 243-884-3608 or 243-884-4609.

For further general information regarding travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, please consult the Department's latest Consular Information Sheet for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is also available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov.