An Icelandic town home to about 4,000 people near the capital Reykjavik could be heavily damaged by a volcano expected to erupt within hours or days, according to experts.
Grindavik is also near the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa resort, a popular tourist destination which closed as a precaution earlier this week.
The most likely scenario would be a fissure opening in the ground near Grindavik.
Iceland, which has 33 active volcanic systems, has declared a state of emergency and ordered the mandatory evacuation of Grindavik early Saturday.
Prior to the March 2021 eruption, the Reykjanes peninsula had been dormant for eight centuries.

Iceland: experts predict feared volcanic eruption could destroy town near Reykjavik