Iceland volcano erupts near Fagradalsfjall mountain after days of earthquakes

A volcano has erupted near Iceland's capital Reykjavik after days of rising earthquake activity in the area, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said on Wednesday. Aerial video showed lava and smoke spewing from a fissure on the side of the Fagradalsfjall mountain, which last year saw an eruption that lasted six months.

Tourists and residents should avoid the area due to poisonous gases, although there was no immediate risk of damage to critical infrastructure, the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management said in a statement.

A "code red" was declared to prohibit airplanes from flying over the site, although helicopters were sent in to survey the situation, according to the IMO. If the outbreak was confirmed to be similar to the fissures seen last year, the aviation alert would likely be lowered to orange, signaling less danger, an agency spokesperson said.

The Reykjanes Peninsula is a volcanic and seismic hot spot, and the outbreak took place just 25 km from Reykjavik and 15 km from the nation's international airport. In March last year, lava fountains erupted spectacularly in the area from a fissure 500 to 750 metres long, continuing until September and attracting thousands of Icelanders and tourists to the scene.

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