Lava is far from the only danger in an eruption.

The two young hikers found dead Thursday near the Piton de la Fournaise were victims of the heat and toxic gases from an eruptive cone of the volcano, according to the results of a first autopsy, the Saint-Pierre prosecutor's office said on Friday. afternoon.

"It is not yet very precise" but the deaths would be linked "to thermal and toxic exposure", declared the prosecutor Caroline Calbo during a press point held with Dr. Berthézène, head of the forensic service of Saint -Denis, after the autopsy performed on Friday morning.

“Additional analyzes” will be carried out, said the magistrate.

The bodies of the two victims, aged 19, were found Thursday morning by the high mountain gendarmerie platoon in the enclosure, the central caldera of Piton de la Fournaise, erupting since April 10.

Due to the risk of accident, a prefectural decree prohibits public access to this site.

Additional restrictions of the prefect

The two young men went to the enclosure on Tuesday.

They had planned to sleep there and were to meet their families on Wednesday in the parking lot giving access to the caldera, but never showed up at the meeting point.

The alert was given by their relatives.

The identity of the two victims was not made public "for the sake of the families," said the prosecution.

The two young men were students of the faculty of science and technology of Reunion, according to the rector of the academic region Chantal Manès-Bonnisseau.

Located in an uninhabited area in the south-east of Reunion, the Piton de la Fournaise is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

It has erupted about 20 times over the past ten years.

Its spurts cause a very spectacular lava flow.

As in previous occurrences, many inhabitants of the island came to admire the eruption.

This enthusiasm led the prefect to decide on additional restrictions by prohibiting bivouacs on site last week.

Hiking accidents are quite common on the trails of the volcano but rarely fatal.

In 2003, a young man who wanted to photograph the eruption died charred after falling into a crevice near a lava flow.

Miscellaneous

Reunion Island: Two young hikers die while going to see the Piton de la Fournaise

  • The meeting

  • Volcano

  • Miscellaneous