Southwest Iceland hit by volcanic eruption

After a series of intense earthquakes, a volcano has erupted on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland. Prior to the eruption, approximately 4,000 individuals had been evacuated from the fishing town of Grindavik, and the popular Blue Lagoon geothermal spa had been closed down. The Icelandic Met Office reported that the eruption commenced to the north of the town at 22:17 local time and the area surrounding Reykjavik has been witnessing an increase in seismic activity since October. Updates and additional information on this breaking news will be provided shortly. To stay informed, you can refresh the page for the latest version or receive real-time updates through the BBC News App on your smartphone or tablet, or by following @BBCBreaking on Twitter.