Fifty killed as lava sparks petrol station fireball

At least 50 people were killed yesterday in a devastating explosion at a petrol station in Goma the Congolese city which has been engulfed by molten lava flows from a volcanic eruption.

At least 50 people were killed yesterday in a devastating explosion at a petrol station in Goma the Congolese city which has been engulfed by molten lava flows from a volcanic eruption.

Many of those caught in the fuel fireball were looters carrying barrels of petrol on their heads. The fresh disaster, which added to the tragedy of Thursday's eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, happened when dozens of people were siphoning petrol from barrels into plastic containers to re-sell. Some fuel trickled onto hot lava, setting the garage ablaze.

"There were about 50 to 60 people inside. Nobody could have escaped," said a witness, Kahokolo Kambale. Exploding fuel tanks could be heard for hours after, and a pall of black smoke hung over the town.

The international aid effort for the victims of the Mount Nyiragongo volcano was reduced to near chaos meanwhile, as hundreds of thousands of people who had fled towards the Rwandan border, returned to Goma picking their way over the congealed crust of the lava desperate to reach their homes.

Further explosions and powerful tremors added to the hazards they faced, causing scenes of chaos and panic. Aid agencies which had been preparing to deliver vital supplies to refugee camps in Gisenyi inside the Rwandan border, seemed at a loss to know how to respond.

"It seems that nearly all the displaced people have returned to Goma," Alison Preston of the World Vision agency said.

"That has produced a whole new crisis because we have half a million people returning to only a fraction of what Goma used to be. There is massive overcrowding, the streets were just thick with people."

Nearly half of Goma has been wiped out by the 165 foot wide lava flows. Lava was still pouring into Lake Kivu yesterday where people were swimming and washing despite the warnings of scientists that it is toxic. The lake is the biggest source of water for the town.

Disease is now a big fear. World Vision's Alison Preston, said seven cases of cholera had been diagnosed in a hospital on the east side of Goma.

"Only two of the town's four hospitals are still standing and nine health centres out of 19 have been out of action," she said.

Judith Melby, a Christian Aid spokeswoman in the ruined town said the situation was chaotic. "I walked down the main street in Goma today. The lava is more than three feet high and still extremely hot," she said. The history of refugee camps in war ravaged central Africa has made many local people frightened of going to Rwanda. Most who fled last week have shunned the camps, and the offers of food and accommodation because they prefer to return to stop their homes being looted.

"People are frightened of going to Rwanda because the memories of the genocide less than a decade ago are too fresh - they would rather risk it and return home," said Ms Melby.

"It has left us with a real dilemma. The situation in Goma is very volatile.

"If we relocate our efforts there and there is another explosion, we could be faced with another mass exodus back across the border. The situation is constantly changing."

Despite the confusion the agencies were managing to get food blankets and firewood to many people in Goma yesterday while electricity was restored to parts of the town.

The Red Cross also delivered chlorine to water treatment plants, and food and fresh water to residents.

Mount Nyiragongo itself is not expected to erupt again for some time but earth tremors remain a hazard. "The volcano has got rid of its lava, but the plates of the Rift Valley still need to regain their stability, this is why they are moving now," said Dieudonne Wafula, who has studied the mountain for 15 years.

In London the British Government said it was ready to increase aid for the Congo.

Hilary Benn, the junior International Development Minister, told MPs: "We stand ready to consider further help as necessary.

He said: "Irrespective of where people choose to locate themselves, there is an urgent need for water and sanitation, healthcare, shelter and food. Cholera is a particularly serious threat."

Mr Benn said Britain also recognised the strain on the authorities in Rwanda. He said: "These two countries have already suffered a great deal from the conflict that has affected the region.

"This human catastrophe is another burden for the people of Goma to bear."

There is still no definite death toll from Thursday's initial eruption but up to 100 are thought to have died.