The volcano erupted near the town of Grindavik in southwestern Iceland, about 40km from the capital Reykjavík.

Grindavik was evacuated in November 2023 due to the same eruption. Authorities then built a lava barrier in December 2023 to prevent the lava from affecting homes, but some of the barriers were breached.

Drone footage from January 14 shows the extent of the damage after two cracks appeared in the ground nearby, causing lava to erupt.

The eruption is currently affecting only the local area. All roads leading to Grindavik have been closed.

Other areas of the island are considered safe. According to Iceland's Civil Protection Agency, Keflavik International Airport - the country's largest - is operating as normal.

Iceland's president has confirmed that the eruption is not life-threatening.

On social network X, President Gudni Johannesson wrote on the morning of January 14: "No one's life is in danger" but "infrastructure may be threatened".