Piton de la Fournaise volcano (Reunion Island, France) - Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic Activity Report for 30 December-5 January 2010 (New Activity / Unrest)

OVPDLF reported that a seismic crisis at Piton de la Fournaise on 29 December was characterized by numerous earthquakes in the area W and NW of Dolomieu crater (max M 3), at depths of 1.1-2.2 km below the summit. Deformation was also detected. On 31 December, OVPDLF reported decreased seismicity and fewer landslides within Dolomieu crater on 30 and 31 December.
On 2 January, an eruption from a fissure near the top of the W crater rim, preceded by a seismic crisis, produced lava fountains a few tens of meters high and lava flows in Dolomieu crater. Large landslides in Bory crater (W) along with the fissure eruption generated ash and gas plumes that rose above Piton de la Fournaise. During 2-3 January, seismicity and the number of landslides decreased.
As of 4 January, the lava flows covered about 80 percent of the crater floor. Lava fountaining was still visible.

Source: Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (OVPF)
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From: Global Volcanism Program, 2009. Report on Piton de la Fournaise. In: Mayberry, G (ed.), Weekly Volcanic Activity Report 30 December-5 January 2010. Smithsonian Institution and US Geological Survey.