Iceland has declared a state of emergency due to a series of earthquakes that raised concerns about a volcanic eruption.
Authorities have ordered thousands living in the southwestern town of Grindavík to evacuate as a precaution.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) stated that there was a considerable risk of an eruption on or just off the Reykjanes peninsula.
The probability of an eruption has increased since the morning, and an eruption could start at any time in the next few days.
Thousands of tremors have been recorded around the nearby Fagradalsfjall volcano in recent weeks, concentrated in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, which had remained dormant to volcanic activity for 800 years before a 2021 eruption.
A tunnel of magma, or molten rock, that extends northeast across Grindavik and some 10km further inland, was estimated at a depth of less than 800 meters.
The increased seismic activity in the area prompted the closure of the nearby Blue Lagoon landmark.
The Icelandic Civil Protection Agency stated that the decision to evacuate came after the IMO could not rule out a magma tunnel that could reach Grindavík.
All roads into the town are closed except for emergencies to ensure traffic can get in and out.