The erupting lava met the water of the Indian Ocean during the August 2004 eruption. Piton de la Fournaise (French "peak of the furnace") is a shield volcano on Réunion island in the Indian Ocean. It currently one of the most active volcanoes in the world, along with Kīlauea in the Hawaiian Islands (Pacific Ocean) and Mount Erebus on Ross Island.
The Piton is continuously monitored by a volcanic observatory, with scientific staff coming from IPGP. The forerunner signs of incoming eruptions are detected and appropriate security measures are taken. Most eruptions follow a known path in the direction of the ocean in a zone with no habitations and minimal infrastructures.
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