At 06:57 on Sunday morning, the night darkness outside Grindavik is broken by a bright light. The volcanic eruption is a fact and in the coming hours the lava will reach the city and destroy several homes.
Hrannar Jón Emilsson was one of those who, through a live broadcast, saw his house swallowed by the lava.
– It is quite surreal to see your family home just disappear. I’m still digesting what’s going on.
Reduced lava flow
The eruption closest to Grindavik now seems to have stopped completely, reports the public service company Rúv.
Along the volcano’s northern fissure, lava is coming from only two of four vents that formed during Sunday morning.
But several experts warn that the situation is still uncertain. Intensive work is now underway to strengthen the protective dikes around Grindavik and the roads into the city will be closed for a long time.
See the images from the eruption – hour by hour – in the video above.