A volcano erupted in Iceland today, forcing the evacuation of nearby communities.

Footage captured by Skoolstah shows smoke billowing into the sky from the Sundhnukur volcano in the southwest of the country on July 16.

Skoolstah said: 'The volcano is at it again.'

The Icelandic Meteorological Office reported that the eruption, which began just before 4 am, opened a massive fissure measuring between 700 and 1,000 metres.

Officials said: 'Lava is mostly flowing to the southeast and is not approaching any infrastructure. Based on GPS measurements and deformation signals, it is likely that this was a relatively small eruption.'

Authorities confirmed that residents in the nearby fishing town of Grindavik, as well as guests at a nearby luxury geothermal spa, have been evacuated.

Often dubbed the 'land of ice and fire', Iceland has now experienced around a dozen volcanic eruptions since volcanic activity resumed on the Reykjanes Peninsula four years ago.