Catherine Joséphine “Katia” Krafft (née Conrad; 17 April 1942 – 3 June 1991) and her husband, Maurice Paul Krafft (25 March 1946 – 3 June 1991) were French volcanologists and filmmakers who died in a pyroclastic flow on Mount Unzen, Japan, on 3 June 1991.
The Kraffts became well known as pioneers in the filming, photographing, and recording of volcanoes, often coming within feet of lava flows. Their obituary appeared in the Bulletin of Volcanology.
Since their deaths, their work has been featured in two documentary films by Werner Herzog, Into the Inferno (2016) and The Fire Within: Requiem for Katia and Maurice Krafft (2022), and a further film, Fire of Love (2022), depicted their lives, relationship and careers using their archived footage.
Legacy
A volcanic crater, M. and K. Krafft Crater, on the Piton de la Fournaise volcano in Réunion, France, is named after the couple. The crater is located at 21°13′23″S 55°43′2″E. Lava erupted from this crater in March 1998.
The Krafft Medal honours the Kraffts’ memory and is awarded every four years by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth’s Interior to someone who has made significant contributions to volcanology through service to communities affected by volcanic activity.
“Wikiwand – Katia and Maurice Krafft.” Wikiwand, http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Katia_and_Maurice_Krafft.