The eruption began early July 16 on the Sundhnúkur Crater Row, about 30 miles southwest from the capital, Reykjavik. See images of the eruption.

A volcano erupted on Wednesday in southwest Iceland, authorities said, with live media images showing it belched smoke and dramatic flows of glowing hot yellow and orange lava, the latest in a series of outbreaks near the capital in recent years.

Tourists at Iceland's Blue Lagoon geothermal spa were forced to pack up and get out as a volcanic eruption left lava oozing from a 3,000-foot fissure in the ground.