'No one going into Grindavik' says Civil Defence chief
Víðir Reynisson, head of Civil Defence, has told Iceland media that "no one is going into Grindavík until we are absolutely sure that it will be OK".
The town has been entirely evacuated although there are deep concerns for farm animals and some pets which may still be there. A total of three houses have been seen catching fire.
Eruption 'worst event of its kind in half a century'
Iceland's head of Civil Defence has labelled the eruption the country's most serious event of its kind in more than 50 years.
Víðir Reynisson said the last eruption on this scale was in January 1973. He said: "Today's events are such that they will be long remembered, and we are probably just seeing the beginning of a chain of events that will continue and be difficult to deal with."
Response team's work went well, say police
Úlfar Lúðvíksson, police chief in Suðurnes, says that all the work of the response teams went well today, despite the scale of the disaster.
He says work has continued today on the construction of the protective walls, and they have already proven their worth by diverting some of the lava flow away from the town.
'More fissures could open'
Lava is still flowing towards Grindavik this evening, while the risk of more issures opening 'cannot be ruled out', Iceland's Meteorological Office has said.
Three houses have now caught fire since the eruption. Lovísa Mjöll Guðmundsdóttir, a natural hazard expert for the service, said the situation however seemed to be "stabilising".
GPS data taken at 1pm GMT showed a lot of deformation in the area, although this has since reduced slightly.
Grindavik restaurant owner 'flabbergasted' eruption 'is possible under town'
A Grindavik restauranteuer says he is in disbelief that an eruption could occur under the town of Grindavik.
Olafur Arndal was at home when he received instructions from the Icelandic authorities to get to safety - but has since expressed his shock at the events of the day.
Speaking to Eurovision News (EVN), he said: "I'm flabbergasted that an eruption is possible under the town. That's something I can't believe. We were waiting for an eruption up on the mountain but not underneath the town... Nobody knows what happens."