A volcano in south-western Iceland has erupted, spewing red streams of lava in the latest display of nature's power, triggering the evacuation of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
The eruption began in the early afternoon following a series of earthquakes north of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3800 people that was also evacuated.
The Met Office said lava was shooting about 50 metres into the sky from a fissure about a kilometre long.
The Blue Lagoon thermal spa was evacuated before the eruption began, national broadcaster RUV said.
Earlier this month the Blue Lagoon and Grindavik were also evacuated following a volcanic eruption in the country's Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland's public broadcaster RÚV reported.
Lava appeared to be flowing rapidly towards north of the town Grindavík, just as it did during an eruption on February 8, RÚV said citing the Icelandic Met Office.
Just under an hour's drive from Iceland's capital and largest city Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions.
The site is part of south-west Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula — a thick finger of land pointing west into the North Atlantic Ocean from Reykjavik.
Northern Lights shine over erupting Icelandic volcano
Iceland is one of the most active volcanic areas on the planet.
Rather than having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley, with lava fields and cones.
The lagoon was evacuated earlier in March due to seismic activity.
In November, it was closed for a week after 1400 earthquakes were measured in 24 hours.
- reported with AP
