Volcano Crisis Management at Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion) during the COVID-19 Lockdown

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Piton de la Fournaise volcano's eruption (2–6 April 2020) demonstrated the feasibility of managing volcanic crises entirely through remote monitoring. The Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise (OVPF) successfully maintained real-time data collection and stakeholder communication using teleworking, satellite observations, and field instruments without physical access to the site. This validated the robustness of its monitoring networks during a double crisis—volcanic activity and pandemic restrictions—highlighting the potential for remote volcanic surveillance in future emergencies.

Peltier, A., Ferrazzini, V., Di Muro, A., Kowalski, P., Villeneuve, N., Richter, N., Chevrel, O., Froger, J. L., Hrysiewicz, A., Gouhier, M., Coppola, D., Retailleau, L., Beauducel, F., Gurioli, L., Boissier, P., Brunet, C., Catherine, P., Fontaine, F., Lauret, F., et al. (2020). Volcano Crisis Management at Piton de la Fournaise (La Réunion) during the COVID-19 Lockdown. Seismological Research Letters, 92(1), 38–52. https://doi.org/10.1785/0220200212