Icelandic volcano erupts for sixth time since December

A new volcanic eruption is seen from the intersection between Reykjanesbraut, Iceland, and the road to Grindavik (Marco di Marco/AP)

A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted on Thursday evening for the sixth time since December, spewing red lava through a new fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

The eruption began shortly after 9pm following a series of strong earthquakes and within the hour a 2.4-mile fissure cut through the Sundhnukur crater.

Iceland authorities say the eruption’s effects remain localised with road closures but do not threaten the population.

A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted on Thursday for the sixth time since December (Iceland Civil Defence/AP)

Halldor Bjornsson, head of weather and climate at the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, told the Icelandic news portal Visir that unlike previous eruptions the lava flow is not heading for the town of Grindavik, which was largely evacuated in December when the volcano came to life after being dormant for 800 years.

Geophysicist Magnus Tuma Gudmundsson, who flew over the eruption centres, told the website that “if this continues like this, Grindavik is not in danger because of this.

“Of course, we don’t know what will happen in the near future, but it is likely that this has reached its peak and then it will start to subside like the other eruptions.”

The eruption is not expected to impact air travel.