French volcano eruption worsens and scientists increase vigilance.

22 cubic meters of lava per second. That is the volume now pouring out of Piton de la Fornés, on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. Lava fountains are rising, volcanic tremor is increasing, seismic activity is growing, and the situation that was already serious just got even worse, because this volcano has done something that had not happened in 19 years. Lava crossed the island's main coastal highway and plunged into the ocean, creating a platform that has already extended the coastline by 85 meters. Approximately 279 feet. And the most recent data show that the eruption is intensifying. This eruption began on February 13th, 2026, shortly after 10 in the morning local time. At first, the activity seemed to follow the typical pattern of Piton de la Fornés, a shield volcano that erupts frequently, but usually keeps its lavas confined to the Enclos Fouquet Caldera, posing no direct risk to communities. This volcano is one of the most active on the planet, alongside Kalauea in Hawaii, Stromboli, and Etna in Italy. It erupts multiple times per decade, and the residents of Réunion Island have grown accustomed to it. They simply call it Le Vulcan, the volcano, but this time was different. The lava began descending the southeast flank of the volcano toward the Grand Brulet, the ancient lava field that stretches down to the coast, and it did not stop. When I started monitoring the data from the Volcanological Observatory, I realized this eruption had the potential to become something the island had not seen in nearly two decades. The eruptive cone formed and grew progressively, and with the lateral closure of the cone, significant lava tube activity became established. This is important because when lava flows inside tubes, it loses far less heat and can travel much greater distances. In one month, the volcano emitted between 13 and 15 million cubic meters of lava. To give you an idea of the scale, that is enough to fill approximately 6,000 Olympic swimming pools. The lava traveled 7 kilometers, approximately 4.3 miles, from the eruptive site at 2,056 meters, approximately 6,745 feet of elevation down to sea level. And all the data I'm sharing here come directly from the Volcanological Observatory of Piton-de-la-Frenise, the OVPF, which is part of the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, and from satellite imagery from the European Union's Copernicus program. If you want to verify, all sources are in the description of this video. The sequence of events was striking. On March 12th, authorities raised the alert level to phase 2-2 after confirming that the lava front was approaching Route Nationale 2, the RN2, the main coastal highway connecting communities in the south and east of the island. The highway was preemptively closed in the Grand Brule sector. The following day, March 13th, the lava reached the highway. The first arm crossed the asphalt at 8 in the morning. The second arm crossed at 9.27. It was the first time since April and May of 2007 that lava had interrupted this road. We are talking about 19 years. An entire generation grew up on Reunion Island without seeing lava cross the RN2. The last time this happened was during the April and May 2007 eruption, which was one of the largest in the volcano's recent history. On that occasion, the lava also descended through the Grand Brule, buried sections of the highway, and created new land on the coast. When the highway is cut in this sector, traffic between the south and east of the island must be rerouted through much longer inland roads, directly affecting the lives of thousands of people. Tourists visiting the island are also impacted, and authorities had to increase security because many people tried to approach the lava to take photos and film, ignoring access restrictions. The prefecture had to take a firmer tone and threaten fines to contain the curious onlookers. But the lava did not stop at the highway. On March 14th, the lava front was 310 meters, approximately 1,017 feet, from the coast, spreading across a width of 260 meters, approximately 853 feet, covering practically the entire portion of the RN2 where the three arms were descending. The speed of advance varied enormously, reaching 70 meters, approximately 230 feet per hour at the fastest moments, and slowing to 10 meters, approximately 33 feet per hour at others. The observatory director, Aline Pelletier, explained that the speed depended on the terrain and vegetation encountered along the way, which could channel or slow the lava locally. On March the 16th, at 1220 in the morning, the lava finally touched the Indian Ocean. Scientists from the observatory measured the temperature of the lava at the point of contact with the water, between 1,100 and 1,130 degrees Celsius, approximately 2,012 to 2,066 degrees Fahrenheit. When this incandescent lava comes into contact with seawater, rich in sodium chloride, a violent chemical reaction occurs. An acidic plume forms, composed of water vapor, hydrochloric acid, and fine particles. It is toxic. Authorities restricted access to the area immediately. This phenomenon is known as laze, a combination of lava and haze, which is the acidic mist. Inhaling this plume can cause severe irritation to the eyes, skin, and respiratory system. It is especially dangerous because the wind can carry this acidic cloud for kilometers, miles, reaching coastal communities that do not always realize the risk. The ocean water around the lava entry point reached temperatures above 36 degrees Celsius, approximately 97 degrees Fahrenheit, within a diameter of 600 meters, approximately 1,968 feet. All marine life in this zone is affected, and the lava platform forming on the coast is unstable, capable of collapsing without warning, which would generate localized waves and steam explosions. That is why authorities maintain a strict exclusion zone around the entry point. By March 18th, this platform had already extended the coastline by 85 meters, approximately 279 feet. New land being created literally before the eyes of those who were there, and this is where the situation becomes truly concerning. The most recent data, from March 19th and 20th, show that activity is intensifying significantly. Lava fountains have risen from low to medium and high level, with visible jets of approximately 10 meters, approximately 33 feet in height. The lava effusion rate has increased to approximately 22 cubic meters per second. Eruptive tremor is increasing, and seismic activity is also growing. The observatory reported that since March 14th, a progressive increase in tremor has been recorded, accompanied by intermittent phases of gas pistoning, which are oscillations in the seismic signal, indicating that gas bubbles are pushing magma to the surface in a pulsating manner. Inflation of the volcano continues, indicating that the magmatic supply system is being recharged. This is significant because... wait, let me put this in perspective. When a volcano is erupting, and at the same time shows signs of inflation, it means more magma is entering the system than is leaving. The reservoir is being replenished while the eruption continues. This could mean the eruption will be prolonged, or even intensify further, and sulfur dioxide emissions have already caused pollution alerts in communities such as Bourg-Murat, and residents need to monitor air quality constantly. The observatory also noted that carbon dioxide emissions from the soil on the western flank of the volcano are showing a long-term increasing trend, with a rapid increase recorded at the Gite du volcan monitoring station. All these signs point in the same direction. The system feeding this eruption is not losing energy. On the contrary, it is gaining strength. And the northern arm of the lava flow, which had stalled 2.6 kilometers, approximately 1.6 miles, from the RN2, has resumed activity with lava feeding its upper section again. This raises the possibility of new highway disruptions if activity continues to escalate, and there is a detail that almost nobody mentions. The eastern flank of Piton de la Fornaise is considered unstable by geologists. Studies indicate that this flank is in the early stages of a potential collapse. Although the probability of a large-scale collapse is considered low in the immediate future, scientists warn that such an event could generate a megatsunami in the Indian Ocean. I'm not saying this is going to happen now, but it is a long-term risk that needs to be mentioned because it is based on real scientific research. This is exactly what makes the difference between information and fear-mongering. The data exist, the risk is real, but the time frame is long. The situation at Piton de la Fornaise is evolving rapidly. The eruption that began over a month ago shows no signs of slowing down, quite the opposite. Lava continues to flow, the ocean continues to boil at the contact point, new land continues to be created, and the observatory data indicate intensification. The sulfur dioxide emitted by the volcano has already caused pollution alerts in communities such as Bourg Moura, and residents need to stay aware of air quality, especially people with respiratory conditions. I will continue monitoring this eruption and bring updates as soon as there are significant developments. If you watched our previous video about Piton de la Fornaise when the lava crossed the highway, you know this volcano has given us one of the most spectacular eruptions of recent years. Leave in the comments which active volcano you would like me to cover in the next video. Share this video and subscribe to the channel so you do not miss the updates. See you in the next one.