A state of emergency has been declared in southern Iceland after another volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula – the fourth since December.

• Lava has reached the eastern defences around the small, evacuated town of Grindavik, local media said.
• The powerful and fast lava flows began late on Saturday ( 17 March)– but the authorities say they have since diminished significantly.
• Iceland’s Meteorological Office said the streams of lava were still flowing on Sunday, but the rate at which they were moving had begun to slow down.
• The director of Iceland’s civil defence, Vídir Reynisson, said all that could be done to prepare for the flow of lava had been done, and the biggest concern was the impact on infrastructure. Pools of lava gathering near defences were also of concern, he added.