There was panic in Arua Municipality on Monday after rocks at Onzivu hill began falling off. Some people living near the hill started running away thinking that there was a volcanic activity under the hill.
The incident started at 2:00pm on Monday and ended at around mid night. The hill is situated on the eastern part of Arua town near the Barifa forest.
A volcanic eruption begins when pressure under a molten rock forces magma up through the conduit and out the volcano's vents. When the magma chamber has been completely filled, the type of eruption partly depends on the amount of gases and silica in the magma.
Nataline Adiru, an eye witness of the volcanic activity says when it started force was shaking the houses before a big blast like a bomb came from the underground of the hill. She says since the incident happened they did not sleep because they were worried that the rocks would fall on them. Some buildings around the hill have developed cracks.
//Cue in: “they were a bit some…”
Cue out…happen in the near future.”//
After the incident Arua municipal council authorities led by the Mayor, Charles Asiki and their counterparts from the district rushed to the area to ascertain what happened.
Asiki says at first he thought it was an earth quake adding that there is need for experts to go to the area to ascertain what is exactly happening.
//Cue in: “this morning I was informed…”
Cue out…of something bigger.”//
But Arua district Executive Engineer, Lawrence Pariyo who also visited the area, suspects that the rocks were falling because of expansion or contraction because of heat. According to him, some houses around the foot of the hill have developed cracks but doubts whether it was created by the suspected volcanic activity. He says people should be calm as they organize with geologists to visit the area.
Before the blast, many residents would go on top of the hill to do quarrying but since the activity happened they have left.
