An Icelandic volcano has started erupting again – the fifth time since December.

The outburst happened on the Reykjanes peninsula, home to some 30,000 people, just south of the capital Reykjavik.

The eruption began in the early afternoon following a series of earthquakes north of Grindavik, a fishing town of 3,800 people that was evacuated.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Lava was shooting around 50 metres into the sky from a fissure that is roughly one kilometre long, the Met Office said.

The Blue Lagoon thermal spa, which is popular with tourists, was evacuated before the eruption, Iceland’s national broadcaster RUV reported.

Previous incidents had forced evacuations, disrupted district heating, closed key roads – and even razed several houses in Grindavik.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Israel-Gaza latest: Fighting in Gaza to last seven more months at least, Israel says – as dozens more killed in Rafah

Israeli airstrike that killed dozens in Rafah carried out using type of bomb supplied by US

Ukraine-Russia war latest: French and German leaders say Ukraine allowed to strike inside Russia

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.

Related posts:

Police raid Indian hospital and accuse doctors of ‘false scare-mongering’ over low oxygen supplies Situation in Jerusalem has all the worrying elements of a third intifada Number of potential terrorists has likely grown since September 11 attacks – defence secretary Talks between the West and Russia on Ukraine crisis are ending in deadlock and risk of war remains as real as ever Novak Djokovic’s visa cancelled by Australia’s immigration minister G20 countries dragging heels on COP26 1.5C climate promise, analysis warns ‘Famine will get worse’: Russia’s blockade will increase starvation and global instability, UN warns Drought, disease and conflict: Somalia is fighting a battle on all fronts ‘I punched him in the face and jabbed him in the eyes’: Fisherman tells how he fought off sharks as boat sank French government orders fuel depot strikers back to work amid union showdown Pakistan left without power after energy-saving move backfires Thousands urged to evacuate by road and air as wildfire nears Canada’s most northern city