Volcano spews lava and smoke in new Iceland eruption

Fountains of lava have spewed from a fissure in south-west Iceland, in the third volcanic eruption since December.

Spectacular footage from the Reykjanes peninsula showed molten rock oozing along a fissure estimated at 3km (1.86 miles) in length near Sylingarfell.

Plumes of lava shot more than 50m (160ft) into the air, witnessed by a Coast Guard helicopter flying over the peninsula early on Thursday morning.

The nearby town of Grindavik was already evacuated during the last eruption on 14 January, and on Thursday guests were told to leave the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa because of the latest eruption.

Watch live: Iceland volcano sends fountains of molten rock skyward