Another volcano erupted this year, this time in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mount Nyiragongo erupted around 7 pm on May 23, 2021 turning the sky a bright red.

People in the nearby city of Goma, population 670,000, reported seeing giant flames shooting into the night sky and the smell of sulphur. Thousands are fleeing the city.

The last time the 3,000-meter volcano erupted was in 2002 and resulted in the deaths of 100. An eruption in 1977 killed over 600 people.

The volcano is located in the Virunga National Park which borders Rwanda. The park is home to mountain gorillas, an endangered species made famous by Dian Fossey.

There have been several volcanic eruptions so far this year including two in Iceland, three in Guatemala and as well eruptions in Alaska, Indonesia, Italy, and the Caribbean island of St. Vincent.

The prophet Joel warned that one of the sign posts of the end times would be in an intense time of volcanic activity as he referred to columns (in the plural) of smoke leading up to the Day of the Lord.

Joel reported that the eruptions would send so much ask into the sky that the “sun shall be turned into darkness” (Joel 2:30-31). The prophet’s reference to the blood and fire suggests many will die as a result.

READ: Volcano erupts in the Congo spewing red fumes into the night sky and sending residents fleeing for their lives into neighbouring Rwanda