Iceland's fire and fury

RIVERS of molten lava and fountains of fiery gold show nature at its most powerful and mesmerizing as a volcano finally erupts in Iceland after weeks of seismic activity.

- Emily Braeger

Police warned locals and tourists to stay away from the Reykjanes peninsula in the country’s southwest, but the stunning spectacle became a big draw.

Marvelling onlookers kept a safe distance as the earth’s crust gave up its potent wonders, with glowing orange jets and red smoke seen as far away as the capital Reykjavik, 26 miles away.

The lava lakes were last night said to be flowing away from the nearest town of Grindavik, where 4,000 residents and their pets had been evacuated weeks ago after a series of earthquakes and tremors.