[Rockhounds] Iceland volcano erupts on Reykjanes peninsula

[Kreigh Tomaszewski]

A volcano has erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula of south-west Iceland
after weeks of intense earthquake activity.

About 4,000 people were earlier evacuated from the fishing town of
Grindavik and the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa was closed.

The eruption started north of the town at 22:17 local time (22:17 GMT), the
Icelandic Met Office said.

The region around the capital Reykjavik has been experiencing an increase
in earthquake activity since late October.

Images and videos posted on social media showed lava bursting from the
volcano just an hour after an earthquake swarm, or seismic events, were
detected.

A coastguard helicopter has been sent to the area to confirm the exact
location and size of the eruption.

The Met Office said that the eruption was located about 4km (2.5 miles)
north-east of Grindavik and the seismic activity was moving towards the
town.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67756413