Your go-to page for following the most active volcano in the Indian Ocean: the 2026 eruption timeline, current status, key facts and every eruption since 1998.
The eruption that began on 13 February 2026 stopped on 12 April at 11.10pm, after three successive phases separated by pauses. Since then, OVPF (the volcano observatory) has recorded the volcanic tremor as absent or very weak, but inflation of the summit continues: magma remains under pressure at shallow depth within the edifice. No scenario is ruled out: a resumption on the same site, a resumption on another flank, or an extended pause.
The alert level set by the prefecture is “Alert 2-2”, corresponding to an eruption in progress or paused with activity inside the Enclos Fouqué. To follow day-to-day developments, the best source is OVPF's daily bulletin: free OVPF bulletin. For ground reporting, Imaz Press, La 1ère Réunion and Zinfos974 publish updates within hours.
The 2026 episode splits into two distinct eruptions and several stop-start phases. Here is the full, dated sequence.
Four lava fountains on the main fissure, early 2026.
The volcano wakes up on the north flank, near Piton Jacob. Three eruptive fissures open within hours, the first lava flow since the July-August 2023 eruption. The episode is short: the tremor stops after 33 hours, on the morning of 20 January.
OVPF records a new seismic crisis in the early hours. Four fissures open on the south-south-east flank. This eruption will run far longer than the previous one, feeding a lava flow that descends towards the east coast through the Grand Brûlé.
The flow front crosses the RN2 national road between Sainte-Rose and Saint-Philippe, the first time a Piton de la Fournaise flow has crossed the RN2 since 2007. Traffic is suspended, with a diversion through the Hauts (the island's uplands).
Three days later, the flow front reaches the sea below the Grand Brûlé, again for the first time since 2007. On contact with salt water, the lava produces an acid steam cloud that temporarily closes the area to ground observers.
OVPF records the tremor stopping. Magma remains present at shallow depth beneath the edifice, and the observatory does not rule out a resumption.
The tremor returns three days after stopping, and the eruption restarts on the same site. Activity is less sustained, with another pause at 12.10am on 3 April.
A final eruptive phase starts on 8 April, then stops on 12 April at 11.10pm. In total, the February-April episode adds up to around two months of activity spread across three sequences.
The tremor disappears on 15 April at 11.20am, briefly reappears on 19 April, then fades again on 21 April. Inflation of the edifice continues: magma remains under pressure at shallow depth. OVPF rules out neither a resumption at the same spot, nor a new site, nor a permanent stop.
The volcano occupies the south-east tip of the island, straddling Sainte-Rose, Saint-Philippe and Le Tampon. A very well-studied geological system, monitored continuously by OVPF since 1979.
Three signals, monitored around the clock, show when the shallow reservoir is building up pressure, which usually means an eruption within a few hours to a few days.
As magma rises, it fractures the surrounding rock and triggers volcano-tectonic earthquakes beneath the summit. A typical seismic crisis stacks up several hundred tremors within a few hours. On 18 January 2026, over a hundred tremors preceded the opening of the eruptive fissures.
GNSS stations and tiltmeters measure the swelling of the edifice to the millimetre. Rapid inflation of the summit, a sign that the shallow reservoir is filling, is the most reliable precursor. It is exactly what OVPF continues to measure today.
CO₂ in the soil, SO₂ in the air, helium and radon. When readings climb, fresh magma is arriving near the surface. The observatory samples continuously at several sites across the Enclos.
The Dolomieu crater under fumarole steam, a sign of the summit's permanent degassing.
Whether the volcano is active or resting, there is always a way to get close to it. Here are the experiences I recommend, all run by local operators.
Top-ratedThe one viewpoint that never fails during an eruption. Volcano-only flight from €205, full-island tour from €305.
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Step inside the tunnels carved by past lava flows, helmet and head torch included. From €50.
See the tours
4 guided options on the volcano from €55. Ascent of the Dolomieu crater when activity levels allow.
See the hikes46 eruptions documented by OVPF between March 1998 and today, listed from most recent to oldest. Notable eruptions (lava reaching the sea, a national road cut, activity outside the enclosure, a fatality) are highlighted in amber.
RN2 cut on 13 March, lava reached the ocean on 16 March (first time since 2007), a lava lake formed
Three eruptive fissures, end of 2.5 years of silence
Two fissures on the east flank, one on the south-east flank
Formation of Piton Iris
Four eruptive fissures
Formation of Piton Guy Valcourt Picard
Three fissures
Notably intense, paroxysmal episode, formation of Piton Voulvoul
Formation of the Jacques Picard cone
Five fissures, formation of Piton Daniel Honoré
Chapelle de Rosemont partly covered by the flow
Formation of Piton Jasmin
Flash eruption
Activity mostly in lava tunnels, formation of Piton Timize
Flows reached the Grandes Pentes on the 17th, formation of Piton Jacob
Visible from Piton de Bert
Interrupted twice for 3 days, formation of the Kalla and Pélé cones
Fountains and flows larger than in recent years, formation of Piton Keitti Aki
End of a 4-year slumber, lava fountains around twenty metres high
Three small flows
A lava lake formed in the crater floor
Four fissure systems
Two flows, one of them two kilometres long
Flow feeding a lava lake
Lava lake
Lava lake
Major eruption, lava reached the ocean, Dolomieu crater collapsed by 300 m
Flow around 1 km long
Dolomieu crater entirely filled, snow on the summit 10 October, lava lake
Formation of Piton La Paix
Lava reached the sea, Bois Blanc village
Formation of Piton Kaf and Payanke. A young man died after falling into a lava tunnel.
Lava reached the sea, formation of Piton Guanyin
Lava reached the sea, Bois Blanc village, Vierge au Parasol threatened
Formation of Piton Madoré
Formation of Piton Tourkal
Lava lake, formation of the Parvedi and Morgabim cones
Formation of the Célimène cone and the Legros crater
First eruption outside the enclosure since 1977, formation of Piton Kapor, lava lake
| Start | End | Duration | Location | Notable facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 February 2026 | 12 April 2026 | 60 days, 3 phases | South-south-east flank, near Piton Morgabine | RN2 cut on 13 March, lava reached the ocean on 16 March (first time since 2007), a lava lake formed |
| 18 January 2026 | 20 January 2026 | 33 hours | North flank, near Piton Jacob | Three eruptive fissures, end of 2.5 years of silence |
| 2 July 2023 | 10 August 2023 | 39 days | East and south-east flanks | Two fissures on the east flank, one on the south-east flank |
| 19 September 2022 | 7 October 2022 | 16 days | South-west flank, foot of Piton Kalla Pelé | Formation of Piton Iris |
| 22 December 2021 | 17 January 2022 | 26 days | South flank | Four eruptive fissures |
| 9 April 2021 | 24 May 2021 | 46 days | South-east flank | Formation of Piton Guy Valcourt Picard |
| 7 December 2020 | 8 December 2020 | 1 day | South-west flank, 2,190-2,300 m | Three fissures |
| 2 April 2020 | 6 April 2020 | 4 days | East flank | Notably intense, paroxysmal episode, formation of Piton Voulvoul |
| 10 February 2020 | 16 February 2020 | 6 days | East flank | Formation of the Jacques Picard cone |
| 15 September 2018 | 1 November 2018 | 48 days | South flank, near Piton Jasmin | Five fissures, formation of Piton Daniel Honoré |
| 13 July 2018 | 14 July 2018 | 18 hours | South-east of the island | Chapelle de Rosemont partly covered by the flow |
| 27 April 2018 | 1 June 2018 | 35 days | South flank near the central crater | Formation of Piton Jasmin |
| 3 April 2018 | 4 April 2018 | 1 day | North flank, near Nez-Coupé de Sainte-Rose | Flash eruption |
| 14 July 2017 | 29 August 2017 | 46 days | Château-Fort sector | · |
| 31 January 2017 | 27 February 2017 | 27 days | South-east flank of the terminal cone | Activity mostly in lava tunnels, formation of Piton Timize |
| 11 September 2016 | 18 September 2016 | 7 days | North of Dolomieu crater | Flows reached the Grandes Pentes on the 17th, formation of Piton Jacob |
| 26 May 2016 | 27 May 2016 | 29 hours 55 min | Behind the Château-Fort crater | Visible from Piton de Bert |
| 24 August 2015 | 31 October 2015 | 69 days | Near Rivals crater | Interrupted twice for 3 days, formation of the Kalla and Pélé cones |
| 31 July 2015 | 2 August 2015 | 3 days | Faujas crater, north-east of Dolomieu | · |
| 17 May 2015 | 30 May 2015 | 14 days | Soufrière, migrating towards Château-Fort | Fountains and flows larger than in recent years, formation of Piton Keitti Aki |
| 4 February 2015 | 16 February 2015 | 12 days | South-west of the enclosure, Dolomieu-Bory-Rivals triangle | · |
| 21 June 2014 | 22 June 2014 | 30 hours | South-east flank of Dolomieu crater | End of a 4-year slumber, lava fountains around twenty metres high |
| 9 December 2010 | 10 December 2010 | 14 hours 45 min | Enclos Fouqué between Dolomieu and Pas de Bellecombe | Three small flows |
| 14 October 2010 | 31 October 2010 | 17 days | Enclos Fouqué, Château-Fort sector | · |
| 2 January 2010 | 12 January 2010 | 11 days | Dolomieu crater | A lava lake formed in the crater floor |
| 14 December 2009 | 14 December 2009 | 7 hours | South flank of Dolomieu crater | Four fissure systems |
| 5 November 2009 | 6 November 2009 | 13 hours | Dolomieu crater, south-east and east flanks | Two flows, one of them two kilometres long |
| 15 December 2008 | 4 February 2009 | 52 days | Dolomieu crater | Flow feeding a lava lake |
| 27 November 2008 | 28 November 2008 | 2 days | Dolomieu crater | Lava lake |
| 21 September 2008 | 2 October 2008 | 12 days | Dolomieu crater | Lava lake |
| 2 April 2007 | 1 May 2007 | 30 days | Dolomieu crater, Grandes Pentes, Grand Brûlé | Major eruption, lava reached the ocean, Dolomieu crater collapsed by 300 m |
| 30 March 2007 | 31 March 2007 | 10 hours | East-south-east flank, 1,900 m | Flow around 1 km long |
| 18 February 2007 | 19 February 2007 | > 10 hours | Dolomieu crater, wall between Dolomieu and Bory | · |
| 30 August 2006 | 1 January 2007 | 125 days | Dolomieu crater and east flank | Dolomieu crater entirely filled, snow on the summit 10 October, lava lake |
| 20 July 2006 | 14 August 2006 | 26 days | South-west flank of Bory, 2,380 m | Formation of Piton La Paix |
| 4 October 2005 | 18 January 2006 | 106 days | Dolomieu crater, Plaine des Osmondes | · |
| 17 February 2005 | 26 February 2005 | 10 days | Plaine des Osmondes, 1,600-450 m | Lava reached the sea, Bois Blanc village |
| 2 May 2004 | 16 October 2004 | 168 days | South-south-west flank of Bory, Dolomieu, east flank | · |
| 30 May 2003 | 10 January 2004 | 226 days | Bory and Dolomieu craters, north and south flanks | Formation of Piton Kaf and Payanke. A young man died after falling into a lava tunnel. |
| 16 November 2002 | 3 December 2002 | 18 days | East flank of Dolomieu crater, 1,850-1,540 m | Lava reached the sea, formation of Piton Guanyin |
| 5 January 2002 | 16 January 2002 | 12 days | North-east of the Enclos Fouqué | Lava reached the sea, Bois Blanc village, Vierge au Parasol threatened |
| 11 June 2001 | 7 July 2001 | 27 days | East-south-east flank, 2,500 m | Formation of Piton Madoré |
| 27 March 2001 | 4 April 2001 | 9 days | South flank of Dolomieu crater, 2,500 m | Formation of Piton Tourkal |
| 23 June 2000 | 13 November 2000 | 144 days | South-east flank, 2,100-1,800 m | Lava lake, formation of the Parvedi and Morgabim cones |
| 14 February 2000 | 4 March 2000 | 19 days | North flank of Dolomieu, 2,490-2,250 m | Formation of the Célimène cone and the Legros crater |
| 9 March 1998 | 20 September 1998 | 196 days | Plaine des Osmondes, outside the enclosure, north | First eruption outside the enclosure since 1977, formation of Piton Kapor, lava lake |
Sources: Observatoire volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (OVPF / IPGP), Wikipedia (Eruptive history of Piton de la Fournaise), Imaz Press and La 1ère Réunion. Before 1998, the major reference eruptions are March 1977 (Sainte-Rose overrun), March 1986 (lava reaching the sea at Saint-Philippe) and March 1998 (first eruption outside the enclosure since 1977, formation of Piton Kapor).
During an eruption, the ground viewing area is pulled back for safety reasons. The flight from Pierrefonds lasts 25 minutes and can be booked as soon as an eruption starts. Slots sell out within hours.
See helicopter rates for September 2026