“What we know so far is that the eruption does not pose any risk to populated areas or critical infrastructure,” Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said in a statement. “We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation closely.”

A volcanic fissure does not usually result in large explosions or significant dispersal of ash into the stratosphere. But people were warned to stay away because of the risk from noxious fumes and hot magma.

“The eruption follows intense seismic activity over the past few days,” the Foreign Ministry said. “It is considered to be relatively small.”

The exact location of the eruption is in Meradalir, about a kilometre north of Mt Stori-Hrutur, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office.

The area has experienced “strong earthquakes” in recent days, it added, warning of tremors, falling rocks and gas pollution. The same volcano also erupted last year, it said, an eruption that lasted about six months.

Volcanoes are a fact of life in Iceland, a country that sits atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. On average, the country experiences a volcanic event about every four years.

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However, the same geological activity is also responsible for some of the country’s most dramatic natural features, such as black sand beaches and geothermal lagoons, which draw millions of foreign tourists.

The current volcanic response is being led by the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management alongside the Meteorological Office and University of Iceland. Scientists are also in the area with Coast Guard helicopters to assess the situation, the government said.

The Washington Post