This is the fourth eruption in the same area since December, showing bright lava visible even from Reykjavík, the capital, 40 kilometers away.

The eruption, thought to be the strongest so far, happened with little prior warning, following just 40 minutes of earthquakes. Lava started moving close to barriers protecting Grindavík, which was evacuated last November, now being only 200 meters away from the lava flow.

Iceland, known for its 33 active volcanoes, is prone to such eruptions because it sits on a significant geological spot where Earth's tectonic plates meet.