In a series of eruptions that have kept Iceland on high alert, a volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula erupted for the fourth time in three months on Saturday evening. The eruption, described as the most powerful so far, sent orange jets of lava shooting into the night sky.

According to Iceland's Meteorological Office, the eruption created a fissure approximately 3 kilometers (almost 2 miles) long between Stóra-Skógfell and Hagafell mountains. The Met Office had been warning for weeks about the accumulation of magma beneath the surface, indicating an eruption was highly likely.

The eruption led to the evacuation of hundreds of people from the renowned Blue Lagoon thermal spa, a popular tourist attraction. However, there were no reported flight disruptions at Keflavik, Iceland's main airport, located nearby.

The eruption site is located northeast of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 inhabitants. Grindavik had already been evacuated once before the initial eruption in December. In November, it experienced a series of earthquakes that resulted in large cracks in the ground, leading to the evacuation of the town. The volcano eventually erupted on December 18, with a second eruption occurring on January 14.

The latest eruption, which began on Saturday, saw the most forceful lava flow yet, according to geophysicist Magnús Tumi Guðmundsson. The Met Office reported that some of the lava was advancing towards the defensive barriers surrounding Grindavik, potentially posing a threat to the town.

Iceland, sitting above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, is familiar with regular eruptions and has a wealth of experience in managing them. However, the most notable eruption in recent history was the Eyjafjallajokull volcano eruption in 2010, which caused significant disruptions in European airspace due to the massive ash clouds it emitted.

As for the recent eruptions, there have been no confirmed deaths, but a workman is currently missing after falling into a fissure opened by the volcano. The situation remains monitored closely by authorities, who are prepared to respond promptly to any further developments.