Summary

  • A volcano is erupting in Iceland's southwestern Reykjanes peninsula

  • It is the fifth time since December an eruption has taken place in the highly volcanically active peninsula

  • The eruption led to the evacuation of the nearby Blue Lagoon, the geothermal spa and Iceland's largest tourist attraction

  • The power of the eruption has decreased significantly since Wednesday, the Icelandic Met Office says

  • Most of the 4,000 people in the town of Grindavík were permanently evacuated in November

  • We won't be providing regular text updates - press play at the top of the page to watch the eruption

Live Reporting

  1. Power of eruption has decreased since Wednesday - Icelandic Met Office

    The power of the eruption has decreased significantly since it started on Wednesday.

    "The most activity is now on a few vents, but due to the limited visibility in the area [it is wet and cloudy], it is difficult to say how many there are," the Icelandic Met Office said this morning.

    Lava flow is greatest north of the fissure, and at the vent at Sýlingarfell which opened last night.

  2. Stream footage of new volcanic eruption in Iceland

    Aerial photo of a fissure of magma after a volcanic eruption, you can see a massive plume of ash and glowing molten rockIceland Civil Protection

    A volcano in southwestern Iceland has erupted, sending glowing hot lava shooting 50 metres (164ft) into the air.

    It’s the fifth eruption since December on the Reykjanes peninsula - located near the country’s capital Reykjavik.

    The country’s Met Office says a fissure, approximately 2.5km (1.5 miles) in length, has opened and seems to be “growing”. The eruption occurred at around 12:00 local time (13:00 BST).

    The Blue Lagoon spa - one of the country's most popular tourist resorts - has been evacuated as a precaution.

    This is a stream-only page - so we won't be providing regular text updates