The international airport in DR Congo's eastern city of Goma reopened Saturday, two weeks after a deadly eruption of a nearby volcano, when the prime minister arrived to take stock of the situation.

-The airport is reopened- Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde said upon disembarking from the plane with other ministers shortly after 2:00 pm (1200 GMT).

-I am happy to finally be here in Goma to bring a message of support- the premier said.

-We have also come to take stock of the situation in which the displaced find themselves- he said before heading to the Goma Volcano Observatory.

About 400,000 residents out of an estimated 600,000 left the North Kivu provincial capital after a brief one-day eruption of Nyiragongo, a strato-volcano nearly 3,500 metres (11,500 feet) high that straddles the East African Rift tectonic divide.

Thirty-two people died from lava burns or asphyxiation after the May 22-23 eruption, and two more died in accidents during the exodus.

During a cabinet meeting on Friday, the prime minister said the country's scientits had observed a decline in volcanic activity in the preceding four days.

-If this trend is maintained, the central government, in agreement with the provincial government, will envisage a progressive and orderly return of the population- the cabinet said.

During his visit the prime minister will study the security situation in Kivu where the state of siege declared a month ago has been extended by the parliament for another month to fight armed groups.

The same state of siege has been decreed and extended in neighbouring Ituri province.