A volcano in Iceland erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December after previous eruptions destroyed roads and forced a town to evacuate.

Livestreams from the area showed fountains of molten rock soaring from fissures in the ground.

Authorities had warned for weeks that an eruption was imminent on the Reykjanes peninsula, just south of Iceland’s capital Reykjavik.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office confirmed a volcanic eruption started between Stora Skogfell and Hagafell on Saturday.

Image:
The eruption has created a vast lava flow outside the town of Grindavik. Pic: AP/Marco di Marco

In nearby Grindavik, where some of the town’s 4,000 residents had returned following earlier outbreaks, evacuations were again taking place, public broadcaster RUV reported.

The popular Blue Lagoon spa, which lies a short distance northwest of the volcano site, has been evacuated and said it will remain closed on Sunday.

Smoke rises as volcano erupts near Grindavik, Iceland, March 16, 2024
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The eruption site is a miles northeast of Grindavik. Pic: Reuters

There were no reported flight disruptions on Saturday night, with the website of Reykjavik’s nearby Keflavik Airport showing it remained open both for departures and arrivals.

The volcano last erupted in early February, cutting off district heating to more than 20,000 people as lava flows
destroyed roads and pipelines.

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February: Watch lava from volcano reach roads

In January, several houses were burned to the ground in the fishing town of Grindavik.

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Spectators watch plumes of smoke from volcanic activity between Hagafell and Stóri-Skógfell, Iceland, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Marco di Marco)
Image:
Spectators watch plumes of smoke from the latest volcanic activity. Pic: AP/Marco di Marco

Volcanic outbreaks in the Reykjanes peninsula are so-called fissure eruptions, which do not usually cause large explosions or significant dispersal of ash into the stratosphere.

However, scientists fear they could continue for decades, and Icelandic authorities have started building dykes to divert burning lava flows away from homes and critical infrastructure.