A new eruption began this evening at the volcano from a new fissure at the southern flank of the Dolomieu central cone about 1 km from the southern wall of the summit depression or Enclos.
The eruption began around 7 pm local time and had followed a seismic crisis that had begun at 2:57 p.m. local time. Although the onset of lava emission was not observed visually due to bad weather conditions, the typical seismic signal that always accompanies the eruptions of Piton de la Fournaise, known as continuous volcanic tremor was sufficient for the volcano observatory to announce the (awaited) first eruption of this year. Later webcam images confirmed the presence of a new eruptive fissure feeding lava fountains and lava flows in the southern sector of the summit depression (Enclos).
During the preceding seismic crisis, more than 700 shallow volcanic earthquakes were measured – magma was rising under the surface and while making its path, it broke through rocks generating the quakes. Additionally, the instruments of the volcano observatory detected rapid ground deformation (inflation) caused by the underground pressure and expansion, also indicating that the magma had left a deeper reservoir and was spreading towards the surface.