This handout picture by the Public Defence Department of the State Police in Iceland shows lava and smoke erupting from a volcano near Grindavik on the Icelandic peninsula of Reykjanes. (Public Defence Department of the State Police/AFP) An Icelandic volcano erupted for a sixth time since December. There is no current threat to life, says Iceland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Iceland boasts more than 30 active volcanoes. A volcano in southwestern Iceland has erupted for the sixth time since December, according to the country's meteorological office. The eruption started at 21:26 (21:26 GMT) on Thursday, with live video images showing red lava spewing out of a new fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said.
The total length of the fissure was about 3.9km and had extended by 1.5km in about 40 minutes, said the met office in a statement.
Iceland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs said the eruption did not "present a threat to life" and that the nearby area had been evacuated. "The impact is limited to a localised area near the eruption site," it posted on social media platform X. READ | Lava spews into fishing town after volcano erupts in Iceland Regional police chief Ulfar Ludviksson told Icelandic media that the evacuation of the nearby fishing village of Grindavik was going well, adding that 22 or 23 houses were currently occupied.
Most of Grindavik's 4 000 residents had evacuated in November, prior to an eruption in December, and while residen.