A state of emergency has been declared in Iceland after a volcano erupted for the fourth time since November.
Video circulating on social media shows lava spewing into the air in the fishing town of Grindavik, located in the nation’s southern peninsula. Residents had recently returned to the area after being evacuated following an eruption in February.
Iceland’s Met Office has confirmed a fissure opened up, writing in a statement: “Lava appears to flow rapidly south towards the defences north of Grindavík.
“Also, lava is flowing west towards Grindavíkurvégur, just like what happened during the eruption on February 8.”
A clip shot from a Coast Guard helicopter shows fountains of molten rock shooting from a long fissure in the ground as lava spreads to each side.
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