Piton de la Fournaise: an earthquake crisis and a return to calm before a possible eruption
According to scientists from the Volcano Observatory, the short-term eruption of Piton de la Fournaise is beyond doubt. On Friday, April 21, a seismic crisis rocked the volcano before it returned to calm. The point is this Saturday.
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Will the volcanic eruption happen after an hour or two days? Impossible to say, this Saturday, April 22nd, to the scientists of the Volcanic Observatory of Piton de la Fournaise.
One thing is for sure, the volcano is on its way to a new eruption. “We are convinced that an eruption of a volcano will occur in the coming days, and it is very likely, reassured Philip Kowalski, deputy director of the observatory. The magma rise, which began late yesterday afternoon, stopped after an hour, but the beginning of the trail is tracked for magma. He initiated the work, that is, opened the massif for ascent.”
Yesterday, around 3pm, a major seismic crisis rocked the volcano for just over an hour, before returning to calm. “break”According to Philip Kowalski.
“The crisis did not resume overnight, we have regressed to a relatively low and normal level of activity between the eruptions, Confirms to the deputy director of the observatory. There is less than one earthquake per hour. It is very small and is located under the Piton de la Fournaise.
according to him, “This indicates that the magma propagation towards the surface has stopped.” He remembers that during the last eruption, “The magma also halted its advance toward the surface before resuming 24 hours later.”
Since March 31, there has been significant seismic activity at the volcano. This past weekend, observatory scientists recorded 57 earthquakes in two days. These low-magnitude (<1) earthquakes are located below the Dolomieu crater with a depth of 1.5 and 2.5 km.
While waiting to find out what the volcano has in store for us, the Prefecture of Reunion has sounded an alert 1 to the specific ORSEC* volcano system and ordered the enclosure closed. All hiking around the massif is prohibited.