The Local France

France's Reunion warns of 'probable or imminent' volcanic eruption

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 11:32:09 +0100

France's Reunion island warned early Thursday of the "probable or imminent eruption" of its Piton de la Fournaise volcano, one of the most active in the world.

'Islamist' shoots two policemen on French island of Réunion

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 12:17:47 +0200

A man suspected of being a radicalised Islamist shot and wounded two policemen on the French Indian Ocean island of Réunion as they tried to arrest him on Thursday, authorities announced.

France confirms wing part is from flight MH370

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 19:14:15 +0200

French prosecutors confirmed on Thursday that a piece of debris found on the Indian island of Réunion was from the Malaysian airlines flight MH370.

France calls off search for MH370 wreckage

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 10:29:34 +0200

France on Monday said it was calling off the hunt for wreckage from missing flight MH370 after 10 days of air and sea searches off its Indian Ocean territory of Reunion yielded no results.

More debris found on Réunion in MH370 hunt

Sun, 02 Aug 2015 11:34:37 +0200

Investigators probing missing flight MH370 collected more debris on an Indian Ocean island on Sunday as Malaysia urged authorities in the region to be on alert for wreckage washing up on their shores.

Experts confirm Réunion debris is Boeing 777

Fri, 31 Jul 2015 11:54:50 +0200

Malaysian authorities confirmed on Friday that plane wreckage washed up on France's island of Réunion was from a Boeing 777, meaning the part is almost certainly from missing flight MH370.

Réunion's plane debris to be probed in France

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:30:54 +0200

UPDATED: Plane wreckage that washed up on a tiny Indian Ocean island will be sent to France for investigation, as hopes mounted Thursday the mysterious object could unlock the riddle of missing flight MH370.

France's Réunion braces for volcano eruption

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 16:53:45 +0200

Le Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes in the world and a main tourist attraction on the Réunion island, was evacuated Thursday as authorities warned of an imminent eruption.

Shark kills teen off France's Réunion island

Sun, 12 Apr 2015 13:08:38 +0200

A 13-year-old boy was attacked and killed by a shark Sunday off the French Indian Ocean island of La Réunion, authorities said, the seventh such deadly attack since 2011.

France's most expensive road - €1.6b for just 12km

Wed, 09 Apr 2014 12:23:00 +0200

French authorities are set to sign a cheque for a staggering €1.66 billion to pay for the construction of a 12km stretch of coastal highway – dubbed the "most expensive road in France". It's not the type of project you would perhaps expect in a time of economic crisis.

Réunion island mops up after deadly cyclone

Fri, 03 Jan 2014 11:40:00 +0100

Cyclone Bejisa hammered parts of the French island of Réunion on Thursday night, claiming at least one life, leaving 15 injured, and cutting off water and electricity for hundreds of thousands.

French island of Réunion recovers after cyclone

Fri, 03 Jan 2014 10:30:00 +0100

One person died and 15 were injured after a cyclone packing winds of 150 kilometres (95 miles) an hour brushed by the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, officials said on Friday. Parts of Brittany, meanwhile, have been hit by severe flooding.

Exorcism sparks murder fears in French town

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:48:00 +0200

Police in the town of Limoux, south-western France, must have feared the worst when they arrived at the spot where dozens of locals had reported hearing blood-curdling screams, however what greeted them was not what they expected.

French honeymooner killed in shark attack

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:04:00 +0200

A French honeymooner was attacked and killed by a shark on Wednesday while he was surfing not far from the beach on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, authorities said.

Réunion lashed by fierce cyclone

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 16:30:08 +0100

Nearly 70,000 homes were left without electricity Thursday as a cyclone lashed the French Indian Ocean island of Réunion.

Réunion to kill sharks 'for research'

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 12:41:00 +0200

The French Indian Ocean island of Réunion is launching a 'scientific' cull of bull and tiger sharks after a spate of fatal attacks in recent weeks.

Réunion issues tsunami alert after quake

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:25:00 +0200

The French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean issued an orange tsunami alert on Wednesday after a massive earthquake struck off Indonesia's Sumatra island, the local prefect's office said.

British security agent raped and murdered in Reunion

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:22:00 +0100

A British man working as a security agent on a merchant ship was raped and murdered on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, a judicial source said on Friday.

Wildfire threatens Reunion Island national park

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:47:00 +0100

French authorities sent reinforcements on Monday to battle a wildfire raging through the national park of Reunion Island, a unique ecosystem designated a World Heritage Site.