What kind of volcano is Piton de la Fournaise?

Piton de la Fournaise is classified as a Shield volcano in France. Its tectonic setting is Intraplate / Oceanic crust (< 15 km).

How is seismicity near Piton de la Fournaise monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

Enormous basalt shield volcano of Piton de la Fournaise on Reunion Island

Photo:Katia and Maurice Krafftvia Smithsonian GVP

Volcano Dossier•GVP #233020

21.24°S, 55.71°E

Erupted since 2000

Volcano Piton de la Fournaise

Q: When did Piton de la Fournaise last erupt?

The most recent eruption of Piton de la Fournaise recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2026.

Q: How is seismicity near Piton de la Fournaise monitored here?

Earthquakes within 50 km of the crater are aggregated from 18 seismic networks and checked against a swarm rule that compares the current rate with this volcano's own 30-day background. Ash advisories come from the VAAC centres that are connected.

One of the most active volcanoes on Earth, on the island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean. It erupts on average about once a year, usually from fissures with lava fountains and flows inside the Enclos Fouqué caldera, and a seismic crisis lasting minutes to hours typically warns the observatory before lava appears.

Last eruption

2026

Erupted since 2000

Summit

2.6 km

Shield volcano · Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Activity

Normal Baseline

0 events (1.0x rate)

Interactive Volcano & Seismicity Map

Seismicity within 50 km radius, active VAAC ash plumes, and tectonic plate boundaries.

Recent seismicity within 50 km

0 events in the last 12 h within 25 km of the crater.

No catalogued earthquakes within 50 km in the last 90 days.

Geological & Tectonic Profile

Shield volcano

Piton de la Fournaise is an active Shield volcano formed in an active Intraplate / Oceanic crust (< 15 km). Dominant lithology: Basalt / Picro-Basalt.

Edifice TypeShield volcano

Major rockBasalt / Picro-Basalt

TectonicsIntraplate

Volcanic ArcReunion Hotspot Volcano Group

Volcano Dossier

VN #233020

Official catalogue parameters, coordinates, elevation and geotectonic classification.

CountryFrance

Crater Coordinates-21.244°, 55.708°

Summit2.6 km

SubregionReunion Hotspot Volcano Group

Catalog SourceSmithsonian GVP (#233020)

Authoritative Monitoring Infrastructure

All 18 Networks & VAAC →

Seismic ObservatoryGSN / FDSN

Global Seismographic Network & Regional Centers

Official Portal

ICAO Aviation Ash Center

ICAO Volcanic Ash Advisory Network

International Civil Aviation Organization

VAAC Advisory Desk

Swarm telemetry correlated across 18 networks against a 30-day baseline.Read Science & Physics →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Verified scientific, operational, and emergency protocols

The most recent eruption of Piton de la Fournaise recorded by the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program was in 2026.

Catalogue: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program.Smithsonian GVP profile