Now this is a hot shot.
The molten lava came out of the mouth of Fagradalsfjall volcano in southwestern Iceland on Friday, when it erupted after being inactive for 6,000 years. And the stunning images resulting from natural phenomena are almost too hot to handle.
Over the weekend, aerial photographer Bjorn Steinbekk flew his drone over the fountain of fire, capturing an impressive viral video of the lava as it descended down Mount Fagradals, on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland.
The eruption, caused after a series of earthquakes in the area, was the first volcanic eruption on the peninsula in 781 years, according to the Associated Press.
Photographer Muhammed Emin Kizilkaya made a two-hour trek to the volcano on Sunday to shoot near the lava that was being released as its electric red glow illuminated the Icelandic gray sky.
“It was very hot! You could hold five [meters] and it would come out too much, ”Kizilkaya told Caters News about the fire.
“This is the most surreal, extraordinary and mind-blowing thing I’ve ever seen,” he added.
“I slapped myself a couple of times to see if I was dreaming.”
The glow of the massive flame could be seen from the outskirts of the Icelandic capital, Reykjavík, which is about 20 kilometers from the mountain.
Icelandic police have informed nearby residents of the area to stay home closed on Friday and have their windows closed to avoid exposure to the dangerous gas pollution caused by the eruption.
Volcanic gases, including sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride, pose a potential danger to people, according to the State Environmental Protection Agency.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office confirmed on Twitter that high levels of volcanic gases were measured near the eruption site. But officials noted that “gas pollution is not expected to cause nuisance to people, except near the source of the eruption.”
Despite concerns about potentially hazardous emissions, the Iceland Meteorological Office said the eruption was small and would likely not damage any nearby structures or settlements.