A volcano in southwestern Iceland has erupted for the second time in less than a month, causing lava to flow towards a nearby community and setting at least one home on fire. The eruption occurred on Sunday morning, following a series of small earthquakes that prompted authorities to evacuate the town of Grindavik.

Located approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Reykjavik, Grindavik is home to 3,800 residents who were previously forced to evacuate in November due to a series of earthquakes that caused significant damage in the area. The eruption in December led to a temporary closure of the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa.

Despite efforts by emergency workers to build defensive walls around Grindavik, the barriers were not fully completed before the new eruption occurred. As a result, lava is now slowly advancing towards the community. Residents are closely monitoring the situation as streams of smoking lava inch closer to their homes.

Prior to the recent eruptions, the Svartsengi volcanic system had lain dormant for 780 years. The volcano is located near the previously dormant Fagradalsfjall, which experienced a sudden eruption in March 2021 after a 6,000-year period of inactivity.

Fortunately, authorities were able to issue warnings before the second eruption, allowing for the evacuation of Grindavik and ensuring the safety of its residents. The Icelandic Meteorological Office noted that Saturday's eruption produced a rapid flow of lava moving towards the town.

Iceland, situated above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, typically experiences an eruption every four to five years. The most disruptive eruption in recent history was the Eyjafjallajokull volcano in 2010, which caused widespread disruption to air travel due to the ash clouds it emitted.

Despite concerns, Sunday's eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula is not expected to release significant amounts of ash into the atmosphere. Operations at Keflavík Airport are continuing as normal. However, the situation is being closely monitored as residents of Grindavik grapple with the slow-motion destruction of their town.

The impact of the volcanic eruption on nearby communities and the ongoing efforts to mitigate the effects will undoubtedly remain a top concern in Iceland in the coming days and weeks.