Lava flows reach the ocean on Réunion Island for the first time in nearly two decades.

Lava flows from the Piton de la Fournaise volcano on France’s Réunion island have reached the water for the first time in 19 years, following a month-long eruption. Spectacular photographs show molten rock spilling into the water as residents and visitors converge to witness the unusual spectacle. Authorities stopped adjacent highways as people walked to viewing areas, and helicopters kept an eye on the situation. Locals described the scene as “spectacular” and a once-in-a-lifetime experience, with lava spreading across forested areas before reaching the coast.