World Map › Major Eruptions › Piton de la Fournaise 1972
Historic Eruption
1972 Eruption of Piton de la Fournaise
August 1972 · Shield volcano · Réunion
In August 1972, Piton de la Fournaise in Réunion erupted. The volcano rises to 2,632 m. Its Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is 2 out of 8, that of a explosive eruption ejecting more than 1 million m³ of material. It killed at least 3 people. Most deaths were caused by indirect effects (famine, disease).
- Date
- August 1972
- Volcano
- Piton de la Fournaise
- Volcano Type
- Shield volcano
- Elevation
- 2,632 m
- Country
- Réunion
- Explosivity Index (VEI)
- 2 out of 8
- Deaths
- 3
- Main Causes of Death
- Indirect Effects (Famine, Disease)
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database (doi:10.7289/V5JW8BSH) · Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program