A volcano in Iceland has erupted for the fourth time since December, forcing local people to evacuate and a famous geothermal spa to shut down.

Iceland's meteorological authorities said the eruption occurred on Saturday at a volcano on a peninsula located in the country's southwest.

Footage shows smoke and orange-colored lava spewing from cracks in the ground and the lava flowing down the slopes.

The authorities said the eruption is the fourth in three months. They had been calling for caution about another eruption.

Local media reported that about 700 tourists and others evacuated the Blue Lagoon spa resort, while residents in nearby towns have already left the area. The resort, a popular tourist destination, suspended its operation after Saturday's eruption.

The Nordic nation is one of the most volcanically active countries in the world. In 2010, a massive eruption spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere, which spread across an extensive part of Europe. More than 100,000 flights were grounded for days.

No disruption to air travel has been reported so far from the latest eruption.