GRINDAVIK, Iceland (AP) — A volcano in southwestern Iceland erupted for the sixth time since December Thursday night, spewing red lava through a new fissure on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

The eruption began shortly after 9 p.m. following a series of strong earthquakes, and within an hour a four-kilometer-wide crack ripped open the Sundhnúkur crater.

The Icelandic authorities say that the effects of the eruption are localized and roads are closed, but there is no danger to the population.

Halldór Björnsson, head of the Weather and Climate Department of the Norwegian Meteorological Agency, told the Icelandic news portal Vísir that, in contrast to previous outbreaksHowever, the lava flow is not headed for the town of Grindavik, which was largely evacuated in December when the volcano erupted after 800 years of dormancy.

Geophysicist Magnús Tuma Guðmundsson, who flew over the eruption centres this evening, told the website: “If it continues like this, Grindavík is not in danger because of this. Of course, we do not know what will happen in the near future, but it is likely that this has reached its peak and will then subside like the other eruptions.”

As news of the eruption spread, hundreds of curious spectators drove to nearby viewpoints to see the stunning natural phenomenon, which became a most important tourist attraction.

“We just thought it was the Northern Lights,” said Mahnoor Ali, who was visiting from Maryland in the U.S. “Honestly, it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”

Friends Ameerul Awalludin from Malaysia and Shohei Miyamito from Japan were with an Icelandic friend when they heard the news and quickly rushed to the vicinity of the eruption.

“We also have something like a volcano,” said Miyamito, “but we can’t see lava like this.”

But for the people who live and work on the Reykjanes peninsula, the regular eruptions and the subsequent evacuation orders will undoubtedly be frustrating.

The repeated volcanic eruptions near Grindavíka town of 3,800 inhabitants about 50 kilometers southwest of the capital Reykjavik, infrastructure and property were damaged and many residents were forced to relocate to ensure their safety.

The few who had returned were forced to leave their homes again on Thursday evening when strong winds blew clouds of toxic gas over the city.

The nearby Geothermal Spa “Blue Lagoon” — one of Iceland’s biggest tourist attractions — was also evacuated, with videos appearing on social media showing sirens blaring as darkness fell.

Island, which has a volcanic hotspot in the North Atlanticerupts on average every four to five years. The most devastating eruption in recent times was the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010, which spewed ash clouds into the atmosphere and disrupted transatlantic air traffic for months.

The outbreak is not expected to impact air traffic.

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Keyton reported from Berlin.