Volcano erupts in Iceland, seventh time in a year

This photograph shows the skyline of Reykjavik against the backdrop of orange coloured sky due to molten lava flowing out from a fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the fourth eruption to hit the area since December, north of the evacuated town of Grindavik, western Iceland on March 16, 2024. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse

REYKJAVIK — A volcano erupted late Wednesday on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, the national weather service said, the seventh since last December.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said in a statement that the eruption took place at the Sundhnuksgigar volcanic fissure, outside the town of Grindavik, at 2314 GMT.

Live footage showed lava gushing from a long fissure at the scene.

READ: Iceland volcano erupts again but spares nearby Grindavik for now

IMO specialist Benedikt Ofeigsson told public radio RAS2 that no infrastructure was currently threatened, but Grindavik — a small fishing town — was being evacuated.

The eruption is the seventh since December and comes after years of increased seismic activity in the region.

Iceland is home to 33 active volcanoes.