Another volcano has erupted near the coastal town of Grindavík in Iceland, leading the local authorities to declare an emergency, as lava streams from a growing fissure in the ground.
It is the fifth volcanic eruption in the region since December. After numerous earthquakes shook the area and enormous pressure built up underground, an eruption broke out in the afternoon near Sundhnúk, north of Grindavík, the Icelandic broadcaster RUV reported on Wednesday afternoon.
Lava gushed metres high from the ground and a glowing mass moved not only towards the town of Grindavík, but also further to the west and north, Icelandic broadcaster RUV reported.
"The earth has opened up with great force," said Kristín Jónsdóttir, a geophysicist at the Icelandic Meteorological Office. She estimated the fissure to be more than 3.4 kilometres long and it continues to grow.
Jónsdóttir said that this was a stronger eruption, as more magma had accumulated than in previous events. "We have been waiting quite a while for this eruption and it is fortunate that it happened right now."
By afternoon, some 1,000 cubic metres of lava per second was flowing from the fissure.
According to Benedikt Ófeigsson from the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the lava is mainly flowing in a westerly direction.
It remains unclear whether the fissure and the lava will reach the defences outside Grindavík.
The authorities began building special dykes months ago to divert possible lava flows away from houses and critical infrastructure.
Ófeigsson said the eruption took a little longer than expected, which could be a sign that it has become more difficult for the magma to push upwards and push through.
The latest eruption has surged through craters formed during previous eruptions, and the fissure is developing in several directions.
The authorities declared a state of emergency.
No one was injured. The eruption came a few hours after the authorities ordered an evacuation of the village of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon, an outdoor thermal pool popular with tourists. Around 700 to 800 visitors were said to be staying there on Wednesday morning.
The civil defence authorities urged people against going to the site after some went to the area.
Despite billowing smoke, the outbreak has not yet had any impact on air traffic.
Grindavík is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula around 55 kilometres southwest of Iceland's capital, Reykjavik. During an eruption in January, lava engulfed three houses on the northern edge of the village of Grindavík, which has a population of 4,000.
Given its location, the local community's future is uncertain and the government has presented a draft law that would allow residents to sell their homes to a state-owned company.