Piton de la Fournaise, the volcano in Reunion, erupted for the first time this year on Monday at 6:23 a.m. (4:23 a.m. in Paris), said the Volcanological Observatory of Piton de la Fournaise (OVPF). According to volcanologists, “the source of the eruption is located on the south-southwest flank of the volcano”, and located in a totally uninhabited area “without any particular threat to the safety of people, property or the environment” specified for its part the prefecture.
The arrival of the lava on the surface was recorded by the devices of the OVPF. Significant cloud cover over the volcanic massif has not yet allowed visual observation of the phenomenon. As a security measure, the prefecture has banned public access to the entire central caldera of the volcano.
One of the most active volcanoes on the planet
Located in the south-east of Reunion, Piton de la Fournaise is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It has erupted about twenty times over the past ten years. His last awakening dates back to December 22, 2021. The eruption had lasted seventeen days.
The eruptions of the La Réunion volcano are described as effusive or Hawaiian type. Most of the lava flows over the surface of the volcano, unlike explosive eruptions that spit clouds of ash high into the sky.