ANOTHER volcanic eruption has shaken Iceland, the latest fissure sending fountains of bright orange lava into the night sky without warning.
A state of emergency has been declared on the Reykjanes peninsula just south of Iceland‘s capital Reykjavik.
It is the fourth “alarming” volcanic eruption in three months.
The Icelandic Met Office warned of an increasing number of earthquakes in the area, near the abandoned town of Grindavik, just five minutes before the volcano erupted about 8.20pm.
Video of the area showed fountains of molten rock burst from fissures in the ground.
“Warning: An eruption began in Reykjanes,” the Icelandic Meteorological Office said on its website.
A helicopter was dispatched by the Civil Defence authority to survey the extent of the eruption as Icelandic police declared a state of emergency.
The Icelandic Met Office reported the eruption was moving in a northwesterly direction.
Reykjavik’s Keflavik Airport’s website said it remained open for both departures and arrivals.
But the nearby Blue Lagoon luxury geothermal spa immediately shut its doors, as it did during previous eruptions.
The operator stated on its website: “We have evacuated and temporarily closed all our operational units.
“We will remain closed through Sunday, March 17.
“Further updates and information will be provided here as they become available.”
There are more than 30 active volcanoes on the north European island.
In 2010, the Eyafjallajokull volcano erupted in the south of Iceland, spreading ash clouds over parts of Europe, grounding some 100,000 flights, and forcing hundreds of Icelanders to evacuate their homes.
Volcanic outbreaks – or fissure eruptions – in the Reykjanes peninsula do not usually cause large explosions or significant dispersal of ash into the stratosphere.
But scientists fear they could continue for decades, and Icelandic authorities have started building embankments to divert flowing lava away from homes and critical infrastructure.
Iceland’s Civil Protection Agency said prior to the explosion: “Since October 24, scientists at the Icelandic Met Office have been monitoring a rise in seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which may signal an impending volcanic eruption.
“The heightened intensity of these seismic events, particularly near the town of Grindavík, indicates the potential for volcanic activity in the area.
“As a precautionary measure, the town was evacuated on November 10 to prioritise the safety of its residents. Evacuations will remain in effect until seismic activity subsides.”
The volcano last erupted in early February and spewed sizzling lava 80 metres into the air along a new 1.9-mile crack in the Earth.
More than 20,000 people were cut off from district heating as burning lava destroyed roads and hot water pipes.
An eruption in January saw several houses in a fishing town burn to the ground.
TODAY'S eruption is the fourth since December on Iceland's volcano-hit Reykjanes peninsula.
Here is a brief timeline of events:
November, 2023 – The population of Grindavik is evacuated due to rumblings, new fissures and bursts of earthquakes that put the area on ‘high alert’
December 18 – Grindavik volcano finally erupted and a state of emergency was declared in Iceland
January 14 – A second eruption took place and sent streams of lava running straight for Grindavik, broke through new defences and melted homes in the evacuated town
February 8 – A third eruption rocks the peninsula again as Sylingarfell volcano erupts, sending fountains of lava up to 80m in the air
March 16 – The fourth eruption in three months takes place with no warning. A state of emergency is declared once again.
