Iceland volcano erupts for fourth time since December

The dramatic footage shows how the eruption unfolded.

The eruption happened on the Svartsengi volcanic mountain in the Reykjanes Peninsula shortly after 8pm on Saturday evening.

The local town of Grindavik was evacuated ahead of the weekend, before lave flowed down to reach it's eastern defences last night.

Iceland's Meteorological Office said the streams of lava were still flowing on Sunday, but the rate at which they were moving had begun to slow down.

The report read: "During the night the intensity of the eruption decreased, and now there are three active openings on the eruptive fissure.

"Shortly after midnight, lava flowed over the Grindavík road towards the water distribution pipe from Svartsengi power plant. There has been limited advancement in that lava flow front since this morning and it is now about 200 meters from the pipe.

"Another lava flow front runs alongside the protective barriers east of Grindavík and towards Suðurstrandarvegur road. Response workers in the area are monitoring the lava's advance rate, which has been slow and steady since this morning."

This image shows the eruption fissure as it was at 11am this morning.

It's the fourth eruption at the site since December. An outbreak in January burned to the ground several of its homes. 

The February eruption cut off district heating to more than 20,000 people as lava flows destroyed roads and pipelines.

The nearby Blue Lagoon luxury geothermal spa immediately shut its doors, as it did during previous eruptions.

“We have evacuated and temporarily closed all our operational units,” the operator said on its website.

“We will remain closed through Sunday, March 17. Further updates and information will be provided here as they become available,” it added.

Iceland has more than 30 active volcanoes, and is one of the world's top hotspots for volcano tourism.

Kristin Maria Birgisdottir, who was evacuated from Grindavik in November, told Reuters: "We're just like, this is business as usual,"

"My son...just called me and said, Mamma, did you know the eruption has started? And I was like, yeah, I did know. Oh, my grandma just told me. So it's like we don't even bother telling each other anymore."

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

No confirmed deaths have been reported from any of the recent eruptions but a workman was declared missing after falling into a fissure opened by the volcano.

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