Iceland faces “a daunting period of upheaval" after homes were destroyed by lava emitted from a long-dormant volcanic system, President Gudni Johannesson said.
Molten lava flows reached the outskirts of Grindavik around noon on Sunday, setting three houses alight, although the town had been evacuated earlier and there was no immediate danger to people.
The volcano, which erupted in south-western Iceland for the second time in less than a month, appeared to be less active early on Monday.
Authorities built barriers of earth and rock in recent weeks to try to prevent lava from reaching the fishing town 40km south-west of the capital Reykjavik.
Mr Johannesson said in a televised address on Sunday night “a daunting period of upheaval has begun on the Reykjanes peninsula” and authorities were battling "tremendous forces of nature".
"We don’t yet know how this eruption will unfold but we must still take those actions that are within our power,” the President said.
“We continue to hope for as good an outcome as possible in the face of these tremendous forces of nature. We will carry on with our responsibilities and we will continue to stand together.”
Volcanic hotspot
It was the second volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-western Iceland in less than one month and the fifth since 2021.
An eruption started in the Svartsengi volcanic system on December 18 after the complete evacuation of Grindavik's 4,000 residents and the closure of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist spot.
No one is known to have been killed in the eruptions but a workman is missing after reportedly falling into a crack opened by the volcano.
More than 100 Grindavik residents have returned in recent weeks before Saturday's renewed evacuation order, local authorities said.
Lying between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, two of the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hotspot. The two plates are moving in opposite directions.
In 2010, ash clouds from eruptions of the Eyafjallajokull volcano in the south of Iceland spread over large parts of Europe, leading to about 100,000 flights being grounded and forcing hundreds of Icelanders from their homes.
Unlike Eyafjallajokull, the Reykjanes systems are not trapped under glaciers, so are not expected to cause similar ash clouds.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
