GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) 鈥� A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted Thursday evening for the sixth time since December, spewing red lava through a new fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
The eruption began shortly after 9 p.m. following a series of strong earthquakes and within the hour a 4-kilometer (2.4-mile) fissure cut through the Sundhn煤kur crater.
Iceland authorities say the eruption鈥檚 effects remain localized with road closures but do not threaten the population.
Halld贸r Bj枚rnsson, head of weather and climate at the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, told the Icelandic news portal V铆sir, that unlike , the lava flow is not heading for the town of Grindavik that was largely evacuated in December when the volcano came to life after being dormant for 800 years.
Magn煤s Tuma Gu冒mundsson, a geophysicist, who flew over the eruption centers this evening told the website that 鈥渋f this continues like this, Grindav铆k is not in danger because of this. Of course, we don鈥檛 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.鈥�
As news of the eruption spread, hundreds of curious onlookers drove to nearby vantage points for a view of the stunning natural phenomenon that has become a key tourism attraction.
鈥淲e just thought that it was the northern lights," said Mahnoor Ali, visiting from Maryland in the U.S. "It鈥檚 like the coolest thing I鈥檝e seen in my whole life, honestly.鈥�
Friends Ameerul Awalludin from Malaysia and Shohei Miyamito from Japan were with an Icelandic friend when they heard the news and quickly rushed to near the eruption.
鈥淲e have like a volcano as well," said Miyamito, but 鈥渨e cannot see lava like this.鈥�
But for people living and working on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the regular eruptions and ensuing evacuation orders will undoubtedly be met with frustration.
The repeated volcanic eruptions close to Grindav铆k, a town of 3,800 people about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, have damaged infrastructure and property and forced many residents to relocate to guarantee their safety.
The few who had returned were forced out once again Thursday night as strong winds blew plumes of toxic gas over the town.
The nearby 鈥� one of Iceland鈥檚 biggest tourist attractions 鈥� was also evacuated according to local news reports.
The eruption is not expected to impact air travel.
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Keyton reported from Berlin.
Marco Di Marco And David Keyton, The Associated Press
