Iceland volcano eruption: State of emergency as lava spews hundreds of feet into the air
It is the fourth time the volcano in Grindavik has erupted in the last three months.
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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The lava flow is now heading south and moving closer to the dike just north of #Grindavik, #Iceland pic.twitter.com/c7UHQMWrcZ
— Volcaholic
The Met Offices estimates the fissure is around 2.9 kilometers long - around roughly the same size as the previous eruption in February.
It started between stora Skogfell and Hagafell on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Around 4,000 residents had been given the greenlight to return to their homes in Grindavik later in February but are now being evacuated again.
Roads were destroyed by lava flow and power to thousands of homes was cut off on that occasion.
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Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport's website says departures and arrivals are functioning as normal, though the nearby Blue Lagoon luxury geothermal spa has shut.
It said 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."
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