Recent eruption of Piton de la Fournaise
Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, dominates the south-eastern part of Réunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean.
During its frequent eruptions, lava flows have mainly remained confined to the crater area surrounding the volcano. The eruption which started in mid-February 2026, however, changed this. This image, acquired on 16 March by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, shows the lava extending for seven kilometres, reaching the Indian Ocean, and crossing one of the island’s main coastal roads. This represents the first time since 2007 that this important transport route has been cut by lava.
Copernicus satellite data support the tracking of lava flows, the mapping of their extent, and the identification of risks to communities and infrastructure.
