This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/mh370-debris-is-not-the-biggest-story-on-the-island-of-reunion--this-volcanic-eruption-is-10429407.html
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| MH370 'debris' is not the biggest story on the island of Réunion - this volcanic eruption is | MH370 'debris' is not the biggest story on the island of Réunion - this volcanic eruption is |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Much of the world may be eagerly awaiting news of the possible wreckage from MH370 today but on the remote island where it was found, all eyes are on another story. | Much of the world may be eagerly awaiting news of the possible wreckage from MH370 today but on the remote island where it was found, all eyes are on another story. |
| A volcano has started erupting in Réunion, sending lava flows creeping down its flanks as it spews boiling gas in the air. | A volcano has started erupting in Réunion, sending lava flows creeping down its flanks as it spews boiling gas in the air. |
| Local news website L’info published the first picture of the activity this morning, reporting that the “spectacular show” started in a remote crater at around 9.30am (6.30am BST). Lava flows out of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano as it erupts on 31 July | |
| Officials had warned of an imminent eruption at the Piton de la Fournaise yesterday and evacuated the immediate area. | Officials had warned of an imminent eruption at the Piton de la Fournaise yesterday and evacuated the immediate area. |
| Members of the public and tourists are being turned away from the safety cordon and helicopters have been banned from flying overhead as a precaution. | Members of the public and tourists are being turned away from the safety cordon and helicopters have been banned from flying overhead as a precaution. |
| The Piton de la Fournaise is on the other side of the island to Saint-André, where international teams have been flown in to investigate debris washed up on the shore. | The Piton de la Fournaise is on the other side of the island to Saint-André, where international teams have been flown in to investigate debris washed up on the shore. |
| But Réunion is just 39 miles long and 28 wide, meaning any wider emergency evacuations could disrupt the operation. | But Réunion is just 39 miles long and 28 wide, meaning any wider emergency evacuations could disrupt the operation. |
| The island’s tourist website says the Piton de la Fournaise is “one of the most active volcanoes in the world” and is constantly shaping the surrounding landscape. | The island’s tourist website says the Piton de la Fournaise is “one of the most active volcanoes in the world” and is constantly shaping the surrounding landscape. |
| It has been erupting sporadically since February and a previous event lasted for six months between 2006 and 2007. | It has been erupting sporadically since February and a previous event lasted for six months between 2006 and 2007. |
| As the eruption continued today, the discovery of two Chinese-branded water bottles and a cleaning product from Indonesia near where the plane part was discovered made third place on L’info’s website. | As the eruption continued today, the discovery of two Chinese-branded water bottles and a cleaning product from Indonesia near where the plane part was discovered made third place on L’info’s website. |
| Publishing photos of the washed up items, it urged “great caution” over linking them to MH370 because of the Asian cargo ships frequently sailing nearby. | Publishing photos of the washed up items, it urged “great caution” over linking them to MH370 because of the Asian cargo ships frequently sailing nearby. |
| The debris dominated the front page of Le Quotidien newspaper but the news section on its website was headed by a serious road accident. | The debris dominated the front page of Le Quotidien newspaper but the news section on its website was headed by a serious road accident. |
| Réunion is an overseas department of France, making it the farthest-flung part of the European Union. | Réunion is an overseas department of France, making it the farthest-flung part of the European Union. |
| As well as the Piton de la Fournaise, it has an extinct volcano called the Piton des Neiges, which forms the highest point of the island. Reunion island is a popular tourist destination because of its French status | As well as the Piton de la Fournaise, it has an extinct volcano called the Piton des Neiges, which forms the highest point of the island. Reunion island is a popular tourist destination because of its French status |
| Its tropical beaches are an attraction for tourists, despite fears of shark attacks that have killed seven people in the last four years. | Its tropical beaches are an attraction for tourists, despite fears of shark attacks that have killed seven people in the last four years. |
| Réunion is currently the focus of international searches for further possible debris from MH370, which disappeared on 8 March last year with 239 people on board. | Réunion is currently the focus of international searches for further possible debris from MH370, which disappeared on 8 March last year with 239 people on board. |
| No trace of the aircraft was found in more than 500 days of air and sea searches but a Boeing 777 part washed up on Wednesday could provide the first concrete clue to its demise. | No trace of the aircraft was found in more than 500 days of air and sea searches but a Boeing 777 part washed up on Wednesday could provide the first concrete clue to its demise. |