A volcanic eruption spews lava and smoke into the air near Grindavik, southern Iceland. (Getty Images)
After weeks of nervously waiting, Iceland was finally hit by a volcanic eruption on Monday night, with a two-mile wide fissure throwing lava and plumes of smoke into the air.
Breathtaking images showed the night sky lit up orange following the eruption, which began at around 10.15pm on Monday in the Reykjanes peninsula. Thousands of people had been evacuated from the area following a "seismic swarm" of earthquakes hit the area in November.
Scientists had been unsure when the eruption would hit, and they're now uncertain how long it will last, with some experts saying it could continue for anywhere betwen hours or months. The Icelandic government has said it is "no stranger to volcanic activity" and insisted it is more than prepared to deal with such an emergency.
Concerns were raised in the morning that flowing magma was heading in the direction of Grindavik, a fishing town of 3,400 people that was evacuated in November. However, as the day went on, experts suggested that magma appeared to be flowing away from the region's only town – although roads are blocked off and residents are still not sure when they'll be allowed to return.
The Icelandic government said the eruption “does not present a threat to life”, however the Nordic country's Met Office did say gas pollution was expected to reach the capital, Reykjavik, by Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
Unlike the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which spewed ash particles which spread across the skies of western Europe, the latest eruption has not disrupted air travel.
Reykjavik's nearby Keflavik International Airport remained open, albeit with numerous delays listed for both arrivals and departures. National airline Icelandair told passengers: “The eruption does have a very minimal affect the operations of Icelandair or Keflavik airport. Our flight schedule remains unchanged."
Here's a round-up of the day's main events:
A volcanic eruption began at 10.17pm on Monday north of Grindavik on the Reykjanes peninsula, after thousands of small earthquakes shaking the region throughout November. You can watch the moment it happened here.
The Icelandic Met Office initially warned that flowing magma may move towards Grindavik, but later in the afternoon scientists suggested it was flowing away from the town, giving evacuated residents hope of minimal disruption.
Volcanic eruption 'could drag on for months', scientists warn
A volcano spews lava and smoke as it erupts in Grindavik. (Getty Images)
Scientists say it still too early to tell exactly how long the crisis in Iceland will carry on for.
Professor Halldor Geirson of the University of Iceland, told the Telegraph: “It could potentially go on for several months. It could also just stop later today or tomorrow.”
Volcanologist Dougal Jerram told Sky News: "These eruptions can often last for several days - and in the most extreme examples, several months," he said.
He added: "The key thing now is monitoring it, making sure it's contained in a certain topographical area."
Sam Mitchell, a research associate in volcanology at the University of Bristol, told the Guardian: "It is very difficult to say how long these eruptions will last; it could be days, it could be months.
“Larger more intense eruptions tend to last a shorter time, but if the flow rate becomes small it could go on for some time.”
James Hockaday
'It's like something from a movie': Tourist watches eruption in awe
A tourist watched on metres away from a volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula on Monday, 18 December.
"I’m very excited to be here in this place, in this time, just being able to see this natural phenomenon... It’s just something from a movie," said Robert Donald Forrester III.
Christmas at home is cancelled for evacuated Grindavik residents
Residents ask for permission to collect their belongings on 17 November following Grindavik's evacuation. (Alamy)
Hopes that evacuated residents of the Icelandic town Grindavik could return in time for Christmas have been dashed after a nearby volcano finally erupted.
Locals were said to be suffering from anxiety and stress after the volcanic eruption a few kilometres from their homes, a town whose nearly 4,000 inhabitants were ordered to leave last month due to the risk.
Defiant residents told The Independent they had planned to be back in the “family-friendly” port by Christmas vowing to rebuild after a 5.2 magnitude earthquake split the town on November 10.
The Mayor of Grindavik has confirmed there were no locals in the port town at the time of the eruption but dashed any hopes they could return before Monday.
Iceland is 'no stranger to volcanic activity' and is 'highly prepared'
A road leading to Grindavík is blocked-off as the eruption rages in the distance. (AP)
Iceland has said it has some of the "most effective volcanic preparedness measures" in the world.
In a statement on its website, the Nordic country's government said: "Iceland is no stranger to volcanic activity.
"There have been three other eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula in the last two years.
"Icelandic authorities and the public are highly prepared for such events... Iceland's geoscientists possess vast experience in dealing with volcanic activities."
Suðurnes police, which covers the Reykjanes peninsula, said scientists need “several days to assess the situation there”.
“We will reassess the situation every hour,” the force said in a statement.
James Hockaday
Hopes for fishing town evacuated ahead of eruption
Earthquakes and rumbling magma beneath the earth's surface prompted an evacuation of Grindavik in November. (Getty Images)
Hopes that the only town close to the site of Iceland's volcanic eruption will survive have been boosted.
It is still unclear when it will be safe for residents to return to Grindavik, which was evacuated in November due to a surge in seismic activity.
There are still many unknowns about how the eruption will pan out, with experts saying it is unclear if it will continue for days or months.
Earlier Iceland's Met Office said the eruption could continue in the direction of Grindavik, but reports this afternoon suggested lava was flowing away from the town and that the intensity of the eruption was dropping.
This has boosted hopes that people's homes will be remain intact, although residents were warned that regardless of damage, it could still be months until it is safe for them to return.
James Hockaday
Scientists 'surprised' by volcano's slow eruption
Scientists have been taken aback by the pattern of the eruption. (Alamy)
Scientists expected a volcanic eruption, but they have been surprised by the way it has happened.
Luca D'Auria, director of Volcanic monitoring area of Canary Islands, said the eruption itself was expected.
However, he said it took an unusually long time to happen after the first warning signs last month.
"We don't know why now, so this is going to be an interesting scientific question to answer," he added.
D'Auria forecast the eruption could last weeks or even months and that it was not currently threatening the nearby town of Grindavik, although this could change.
He also said unless it started emitting large quantities of ash there was unlikely to be any disruption to air travel in the region.
Iceland's government said flights are unlikely to be affected, quashing concerns over a repeat of the chaos that resulted from the ash cloud caused by an eruption on the north Atlantic island in 2010.
James Hockaday
'Once in a lifetime view' for tourists in Iceland
The sky is lit up orange as people watch on around the Reykjanes Peninsula. (Getty Images)
Some tourists in Iceland have tried to make the most of the volcanic eruption, although authorities have urged caution.
"It's a once in a lifetime for us so we don't want to miss that," said a tourist from the Netherlands who gave his name as Wouter.
"It's a bit far from here, but you can still see some lava coming up, for us this is amazing."
However, authorities have warned tourists not to get too close, reminding them that some 3,700 people have had to be evacuated.
“This is not a tourist attraction and you must watch it from a great distance,” Vidir Reynisson, head of Iceland’s Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told broadcaster RUV.
James Hockaday
Gas pollution could hit Iceland's capital in coming hours, forecasters warn
A view of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital. (Getty Images)
Iceland's Met Office has said gas pollution could reach the country's capital Reykjavik either tonight or tomorrow.
In a statement, it said: "The power of the volcanic eruption at Sundhnuks crater continues to decrease.
"According to the weather forecast, gas pollution could be noticed in the capital area late tonight or in the morning.
"New work is being done on a hazard assessment card and it will be issued later today."
The meteorological office added that estimated lava flow had fallen to one quarter of what it was at the start of the eruption.
It added that magma plumes - areas of hot, upwelling mantle - had dropped from around 30m to 13m. However, officials are still undecided on how long the volcanic eruption will drag on for.
Harriet Sinclair
Will the Grindavik volcanic eruption in Iceland affect UK flights?
With the news that yet another volcano has erupted in the small island nation of Iceland, many will be wondering if this will have any effect on their planned flights.
While the summertime is usually associated with travelling abroad, many opt to travel in November and December to escape the colder conditions.
Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption? Your rights if you have a holiday booked
The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. A volcano is erupting on the Reykjanes peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik, Simon Calder writes.
For six weeks the Icelandic authorities have been monitoring seismic activity close to Keflavik airport, a major North Atlantic aviation hub.
The eruption is around 10 miles southwest of the airport and northeast of the town of Grindavik – whose 4,000 inhabitants were evacuated as a precaution.
Yet flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal. These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights.
Tourist watches on as lava shoots from Iceland volcano: ‘Something from a movie’
A tourist watched on metres away from a volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula on Monday, 18 December.
"I’m very excited to be here in this place, in this time, just being able to see this natural phenomenon... It’s just something from a movie," said Robert Donald Forrester III.
The eruption began a few kilometres from Grindavík, whose nearly 4,000 inhabitants were evacuated last month.
This image made from video provided by the Icelandic Coast Guard shows magma flow on a hill near Grindavik. (Icelandic coast guard via AP)
A volcanic eruption is seen, turning the sky orange, in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
People watch as the night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik. (AP Photo/Marco Di Marco)
People watch as the night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula. (AP Photo/Brynjar Gunnarsson)
A view of lava after volcano eruption located close to Sundhnukagigar, about 4 kilometers northeast of Grindavik. The eruption began following an earthquake that started around an hour earlier. (Photo by ICELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Local resident watch smoke billow as the lava colour the night sky orange from an volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula. A volcanic eruption began on Monday night in Iceland, south of the capital Reykjavik, following an earthquake swarm, Iceland's Meteorological Office reported. (Photo by Kristin Elisabet Gunnarsdottir / AFP via Getty Images)
A view of lava after volcano eruption located close to Sundhnukagigar. (Photo by ICELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Harriet Sinclair
Iceland warns thrill-seeking tourists to stay away from erupting volcano
Iceland has warned tourists to stay away from a volcanic eruption that sent smoke and molten rock spewing hundreds of feet into the air.
The seismic activity opened a 2.5 mile-long fissure on the southwestern Reykjanes peninsula late on Monday from which lava fountains emerged.
Images and live streaming of the eruption showed bright yellow, orange and red molten rock streaming out, in sharp contrast against the night sky, but the lava appeared to flow away from the only town in the area.
Iceland. Flights continuing as normal despite the volcanic eruption, only 10 miles from the international airport. EasyJet flight from Keflavik to Manchester last night was delayed by five hours, but everything more or less back on schedule now. https://t.co/W2cSp6Ffpt
How could the Iceland volcanic eruption affect Christmas travel?
A volcano erupted late on Monday in southwest Iceland, spewing lava and smoke across a wide area after weeks of intense earthquakes.
Images and livestreams of the eruption showed molten rock spewing spectacularly from fissures in the ground, their bright-yellow and orange colours set in sharp contrast against the dark night sky. Fearing a significant eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula, authorities last month evacuated the nearly 4,000 inhabitants of the fishing town of Grindavik and closed the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.
VIDEO: 🇮🇸 A volcano has erupted in Iceland near the fishing town of Grindavik, shooting geysers of molten lava into the night sky after weeks of intense seismic activity southwest of the capital Reykjavik
Major tourist sites closed as Iceland volcano erupts
A volcano has erupted close to the Blue Lagoon, Grindavík, Iceland. (Sergio Pitamitz/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
After weeks of intense seismic activity, a volcano has erupted in southwest Iceland, just one day after the area reopened to tourists.
The eruption is just a few kilometres from Iceland’s most popular tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon wellness complex and hotels. It had partially reopened on Sunday, despite ongoing volcanic activity in the local area: the decision to reopen was made “in close collaboration with the authorities”, it said on its website at the time.
Iceland volcano: This volcanic burst may not be short-lived - and all that can be done is let nature take its course
The molten rock that has been building up beneath southwest Iceland has erupted in spectacular fountains of lava.
A gash two miles long has opened up on the Reykjanes peninsula, spewing between 100 and 200 cubic metres of lava every second. That's far more than in other recent eruptions in the area.
Lava from a large volcanic eruption in Iceland appeared to flow away from the only town in the area, offering hope that homes would be spared, geologists and rescue officials said on Tuesday.
The eruption late on Monday on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland spewed lava and smoke more than 100 meters (330 feet) into the air after weeks of intense seismic activity, Reuters reported.
"The eruption does not present a threat to life," an Icelandic government statement said.
"There are no disruptions to flights to and from Iceland and international flight corridors remain open."
Authorities last month evacuated the nearly 4,000 inhabitants of the fishing town of Grindavik about 40 km (25 miles) southwest of capital city Reykjavik.
Harriet Sinclair
Where has the volcano erupted?
The volcanic eruption has hit about 30 km southwest of Iceland's capital Reykjavik.
Map showing the area affected by the volcanic activity. (Reuters)
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