********************************* Piton de la Fournaise From: Thomas Staudacher <staud@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> ********************************* Following the flank eruption at about 500 m altitude in the Grand Brûlé and as forecasted by the Observatoire Volcanologique (OVPF/IPGP), a large part of the Dolomieu crater floor collapsed from Friday on and is still going on today. As estimated from photographies taken by the pilots during an over flight of the helicopter of the local gendarmerie, the collapsed crater might be larger than 400 m in diameter and between 250 and 300 m deep. Moore detailed determinations will be done today. Yesterday afternoon the phenomenon was recorded by two cameras of the observatory in real time, one being at a distance of about 6km the second one being on the summit of Piton de la Fournaise. The intensity of the phreatic panache is not yet determined but will be estimated as soon as access to the Piton de la Fournaise is possible. Since Friday 2 April, access to Piton de la Fournaise was forbidden and nobody should be hurt by this phenomenon. Th. Staudacher Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris _________________________________________________________________ Thomas Staudacher Observatoire volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise 14 RN3 le 27ème km F-97418 La Plaine des Cafres La Réunion tél +262(0)262 27 52 92 fax +262(0)262 59 12 04 _________________________________________________________________ ============================================================== To unsubscribe from the volcano list, send the message: signoff volcano to: listserv@xxxxxxx, or write to: volcano-request@xxxxxxxx To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxxx Please do not send attachments. ==============================================================
