Hundreds evacuate after volcano eruption in Iceland

A volcano has erupted near a glacier in southern Iceland, shooting ash and molten lava into the air. Hundreds of villagers nearby the volcano were forced to evacuate on Sunday.

This frame grab from APTN shows the volcano near the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier, the fifth largest glacier in Iceland, as it begins erupting early Sunday morning March 21, 2010. Fearing flooding from the glacier melt, authorities evacuated some 400 people in the area 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of the capital, Reykjavik, as a precaution but no damage or injuries have been reported according to authorities. The last time the volcano erupted was in the 1820s.(AP Photo/APTN)

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage from the eruption. The most immediate threat was to livestock because of caustic gases. Iceland's government has declared a state of emergency. All domestic and some international flights have been cancelled until further notice.

Scientists feared the eruption could trigger a larger and potentially more dangerous eruption at another volcano in the country. Local authorities said they would continue to closely monitor the situation.