Iceland has declared a state of emergency following the eruption of a volcano, marking the fourth instance in just three months.

On Saturday, Icelandic police declared a state of emergency as lava erupted from a new volcanic fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula, marking the fourth eruption in the area since December. The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) confirmed the eruption between Stori-Skogfell and Hagafell, with live video footage depicting glowing lava and billowing smoke.

Iceland’s Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management dispatched a helicopter to pinpoint the exact location of the new fissure. The authority also reported the police’s declaration of a state of emergency in response to the eruption.

According to the IMO, the eruption occurred near the site of a previous event on February 8, with lava flowing south toward dykes constructed to shield the fishing village of Grindavik. By 22:00 GMT, the lava front was approximately 200 meters from the barriers on the eastern side of Grindavik, advancing at a speed of about one kilometer per hour.

As the eruption commenced, hundreds of individuals were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa, a prominent tourist attraction in Iceland, as reported by national broadcaster RUV.