Piton de la Fournaise: the volcano of Reunion has erupted

Going on alert 2-1

The 2-1 alert phase of the ORSEC volcano plan "eruption in the enclosure without any particular threat to the safety of people, property or the environment" was therefore triggered by the prefect of Reunion.

Access to the entire Piton de la Fournaise enclosure, whether by the Pas-de-Bellecombe trail or from any other trail, remains closed to the public until further notice. The landing of aircraft in the area of the volcano is regulated and subject to authorization by the prefecture.

An eruption on the eastern flank of the volcano

The eruptive cracks opened on the eastern flank of the volcano, at the level of the Grandes Pentes, indicates the Volcanological Observatory of Piton de la Fournaise.

The eruption visible from Bois-Blanc

According to the first testimonies, the eruption is visible from the Route des Laves, between Sainte-Rose and Saint-Philippe. The RN2 remains open to traffic for the time being. You are asked to avoid untimely stops on this road and its surroundings which could cause accidents or traffic problems.

Philippe, originally from Sainte-Rose, back on his island for the holidays with his daughter, found himself in the right place at the right time. From the Route des Laves, just out of the plane, he was indeed among the first witnesses of the eruption.

While explaining to his daughter the reliefs of his island, and in particular the Piton des Neiges and the Piton de la Fournaise, Philippe saw "smoke in the mountain" as he drove shortly after Saint-Benoit. For him, the thing was certain. Continuing the road to Bois-Blanc, the eruption was confirmed.

They then saw lava descending towards the national road. The eruption would not be very high according to him. For Philippe, this Sunday evening should be the occasion of a very beautiful show.

Seismic crisis at 7:36 a.m. and transition to alert 1 at 8 a.m.

A seismic crisis was recorded at 7:36 a.m. by the instruments of the Piton de la Fournaise volcanological observatory, leading to the triggering of alert 1 of the ORSEC plan at 8 a.m. by the prefect of Reunion.

The volcanic tremor synonymous with the arrival of magma near the surface has been recorded since about 8:30 a.m.