Volcano in Iceland erupts for fourth time in three months

Icelandic police have declared a state of emergency as lava spewed from a new volcanic fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula, the fourth eruption to hit the area since December. A volcanic eruption “started between stora Skogfell and Hagafell on the Reykjanes Peninsula”, said a statement from the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) on Saturday. Live video images showed glowing lava and billowing smoke.

Iceland’s department of civil protection and emergency management announced it had sent a helicopter to narrow down the exact location of the new fissure. The authority also said the police had declared a state of emergency due to the eruption.

According to the IMO, it occurred close to the same location as a previous eruption on 8 February. Lava appeared to flow south towards the dykes built to protect the fishing village Grindavik, it added.