The following quoted reports are from the OVPDLF. "Eruptive activity started 4 December at 0900, preceded by an increase in seismicity that began 20 November [corrected from 2 November]. From 20 November, the seismic events clustered at depths of about 1.5-5 km beneath the summit area. The maximum number of earthquakes was recorded 1 and 2 December, with 10 events (M <1) per day. The strain release was not very large. A seismic swarm began 4 December at 0642. About 300 events were recorded by 0859, when harmonic tremor began, and a few minutes later the eruption was seen. The initial eruption fissure was situated on the SSW flank of the central cone (Cratère Dolomieu). Activity at two segments of this fissure stopped during the evening. A second fissure zone opened at 1027 and stopped erupting about 1400; a third fissure opened at 1319 and ceased erupting about 0700 the next morning. The amount of lava extruded 4 December was estimated at 1 x 10⁶ m³. The initial fissure was the most productive. Only weak deformation was measured before and during the eruption."

Geological Summary. Piton de la Fournaise is a massive basaltic shield volcano on the French island of Réunion in the western Indian Ocean. Much of its more than 530,000-year history overlapped with eruptions of the deeply dissected Piton des Neiges shield volcano to the NW. Three scarps formed at about 250,000, 65,000, and less than 5,000 years ago by progressive eastward slumping, leaving caldera-sized embayments open to the E and SE. Numerous pyroclastic cones are present on the floor of the scarps and their outer flanks. Most recorded eruptions have originated from the summit and flanks of Dolomieu, a 400-m-high lava shield that has grown within the youngest scarp, which is about 9 km wide and about 13 km from the western wall to the ocean on the E side. More than 150 eruptions, most of which have produced fluid basaltic lava flows, have occurred since the 17th century. Only six eruptions, in 1708, 1774, 1776, 1800, 1977, and 1986, have originated from fissures outside the scarps.

Information Contacts: J. Lenat and F. Lalanne, OVPDLF; Univ. de la Réunion; J. LeMouel and J-L. Cheminée, IPG, Paris.