Volcano erupts on Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest Iceland

A volcano erupted on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland, near the capital Reykjavik, following intense seismic activity in the area, the country's Meteorological Office (IMO) said on Monday.

The eruption began at around 4:40 p.m. on Monday, according to the IMO.

"At the moment, it's a very small eruption," said Matthew Roberts of the IMO’s service and research division. He added there was no direct imminent hazard to people in the region.

Traffic at Reykjavik's international Keflavik airport was not disrupted, the airport said on its website.

Experts from the IMO will assess where exactly the lava is emerging from and how the eruption evolves over the coming hours.

(Reuters)