Eruption Update – Piton de la Fournaise, Réunion
A new eruption began at Piton de la Fournaise on February 13, 2026, shortly after 10:00 a.m. local time.
Four fissures opened rapidly in the upper cone area. During the first minutes, lava fountains reached heights of 10–20 meters, feeding fast-moving lava flows downslope. Three fissures (F1–F3) initially opened south and southeast of the Dolomieu crater.
Around 11:00 a.m., eruptive activity shifted toward the south-southeast flank, where a fourth fissure (F4) opened near Piton Morgabim. Following this development, volcanic tremor intensified before stabilizing in the afternoon. Activity is now mainly concentrated at fissure 4, while the other fissures have largely ceased.
By 1:00 p.m., lava had descended to an elevation of about 1,500 meters. Satellite data indicate peak lava discharge rates of up to 63 cubic meters per second during the early phase of the eruption.
Authorities continue close monitoring, noting that additional fissures could open in the coming hours due to ongoing seismic activity.
Located on Réunion, Piton de la Fournaise is one of the world’s most active volcanoes, known for its frequent basaltic, effusive eruptions.