Iceland volcano eruption spews lava fountains 330 feet into sky – live

A volcano in southwest Iceland has erupted after weeks of earthquakes, with thrill-seekers racing to get a glimpse of the 330-foot-high lava fountains spurting into the sky.

Following what weather officials described as a ‘seismic swarm’ Monday evening, lava began to spew out of a 4km-long fissure that had torn through the ground just 2.5 miles northeast of Grindavik.

Lava is flowing just 1.6 miles from the fishing village, though officials aren’t too worried – Grindavik’s 3,000 residents were evacuated last month.

The Blue Lagoon has been forced to ‘temporarily close’ once again after re-opening only the day before as it seemed an eruption was no longer a concern.

Travel advice from the British Foreign Office remains unchanged and still lists the same information as it did in November.

‘While there is no current eruption, it is increasingly possible that one could occur,’ the department says.

Iceland’s main airport, Keflavik, remains open.

Icelandic civil defense officials have stressed that Fagradalsfjall volcano is ‘no tourist volcano’, with police pleading for people to steer clear of the site.