Iceland rushes to evacuate tourists from erupting volcano

A new fissure spewing red lava and steam at an Icelandic volcano has prompted the authorities to evacuate hundreds of tourists who had come to marvel at the spectacle not far from the island’s capital city.

The 500m (1,640ft) long fissure was spotted by a sightseeing helicopter on Monday.

It is located about a kilometre away from the mouth of the volcano on Mount Fagradalsfjall in the Geldingadalir valley where the dormant volcano flared up on 19 March after almost 800 years.

Following the new eruption, the Icelandic Department of Emergency Management called on hikers and tourists to immediately vacate the area.