STORY: A volcano erupted in southwest Iceland on Wednesday (July 16) belching smoke and flows of glowing hot yellow and orange lava, the latest in a series of outbreaks near the capital in recent years.

Often referred to as a land of ice and fire, the North Atlantic island nation with its many glaciers and volcanoes has now experienced a dozen eruptions since geological systems on its Reykjanes peninsula reactivated in 2021.

Magma forced through the earth's crust opened a massive fissure of length between 700 m and 1,000 m (0.4 miles and 0.6 miles), Iceland's meteorological office said, with the first signs of the eruption giving scant warning.

The office said that based on GPS measurements and deformation signals, it was likely that this was a relatively small eruption.

Flights at Keflavik airport in the capital of Reykjavik were not affected, its web page showed.

Public broadcaster RUV said people had been evacuated from the Blue Lagoon, a luxury geothermal spa resort, and the nearby town of Grindavik, citing police.

Experts have said the eruptions in the area could recur for decades, or even centuries.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Iceland volcano emits smoke and glowing lava in 12th eruption since 2021

VIDEO SHOWS: VOLCANIC ACTIVITY AT THE SUNDHNUK CRATER RANGE, NEAR GRINDAVIK

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: NEAR GRINDAVIK, REYKJANES, ICELAND (JULY 16, 2025) (SYN Iceland/Bjorn Steinbekk - No use Iceland)

1. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF LAVA AND SMOKE EMITTING FROM VOLCANO (MUTE)