Iceland earthquake live: Evacuees given brief window to collect belongings as country braces for volcanic eruption

Residents of Grindavik were allowed back briefly on Monday to collect their belongings amid the risk of a volcanic eruption. Seismic activity in southwestern Iceland decreased in size and intensity on Monday, but the risk of a volcanic eruption remained significant, authorities said, after earthquakes and evidence of magma spreading underground in recent weeks. Almost 4,000 people were evacuated over the weekend as authorities feared that molten rock would rise to the surface of the earth and potentially hit a coastal town and a geothermal power station. However, yesterday police in Suðurnes decided to give residents until 4pm to collect necessities from their homes before evacuating the town again. Earlier, shock images showed roads split apart near Grindavik as the country braced for a volcanic eruption following a series of earthquakes and with evidence of magma spreading underground. Experts said a nine-mile river of magma running beneath the peninsula was still active, putting Grindavik at risk. Read More Iceland roads cracked and evacuations ordered amid looming volcanic eruption Iceland earthquakes: Are flights still running amid fears of volcano eruption? Iceland earthquakes: What are your rights if you are on holiday or are planning to go? Could an Icelandic volcano ground flights like in 2010?