DRAMATIC footage shows the moment huge fountains of lava spewed into the sky as yet another volcanic eruption shook Iceland.
Residents were forced to evacuate as a state of emergency was declared on the Reykjanes peninsula, just south of Iceland's capital Reykjavik.
It is the fourth "alarming" volcanic eruption in just three months.
The Icelandic Met Office warned of an increasing number of earthquakes in the area, near the abandoned town of Grindavik, just five minutes before the eruption took place at about 8.20pm local time
Video of the area showed fountains of molten rock bursting from fissures in the ground.
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"Warning: An eruption began in Reykjanes," the Icelandic Meteorological Office said on its website.
A helicopter was dispatched by the Civil Defence authority to survey the extent of the eruption as Icelandic police declared a state of emergency.
The Icelandic Met Office reported the eruption was moving in a northwesterly direction.
Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport's website said it remained open for both departures and arrivals.
But the nearby Blue Lagoon luxury geothermal spa immediately shut its doors, as it did during previous eruptions.
The operator stated on its website: "We have evacuated and temporarily closed all our operational units.
"We will remain closed through Sunday, March 17.
"Further updates and information will be provided here as they become available."
There are more than 30 active volcanoes on the north European island.
In 2010, the Eyafjallajokull volcano erupted in the south of Iceland, spreading ash clouds over parts of Europe, grounding some 100,000 flights, and forcing hundreds of Icelanders to evacuate their homes.
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Volcanic outbreaks - or fissure eruptions - in the Reykjanes peninsula do not usually cause large explosions or significant dispersal of ash into the stratosphere.
But scientists fear they could continue for decades, and Icelandic authorities have started building embankments to divert flowing lava away from homes and critical infrastructure.
Iceland's Civil Protection Agency said prior to the explosion: "Since October 24, scientists at the Icelandic Met Office have been monitoring a rise in seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which may signal an impending volcanic eruption.
"The heightened intensity of these seismic events, particularly near the town of Grindavík, indicates the potential for volcanic activity in the area.
"As a precautionary measure, the town was evacuated on November 10 to prioritise the safety of its residents. Evacuations will remain in effect until seismic activity subsides."
