A volcano has dramatically erupted in Iceland, expelling spectacular bursts of lava onto the landscape and emitting huge plumes of smoke into the sky. The eruption comes after weeks of seismic activity prompted the coastal town of Grindavík to be evacuated in November.
The eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula began at around 10 p.m. local time on Monday, December 18, following an earthquake around an hour earlier, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said in a statement.
The office reported that the eruption was located close to Hagafell, 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) north of the town of Grindavík.
Officials said the eruption does not pose a threat to life but said the area was closed to all traffic and strongly warned people not to approach the area.