After a massive volcano erupted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, residents are returning to scenes of destruction.

When Mount Nyiragongo erupted on Saturday, it turned the sky red and spewed a river of lava.

Overnight, tens of thousands of people fled Goma, a two-million-strong city just south of the volcano.

Five people are said to have died during the evacuation, but this hasn't been officially reported.

It's unknown whether anyone was killed in the eruption, but houses north of the city have been destroyed.

Many citizens were able to flee the region because the lava moved slowly.