After weeks of increased seismic activity, the Fagradals Mountain volcano erupted just near Iceland’s capital Reykjavik on Friday, turning the sky crimson and forcing the establishment of a no-fly zone in the area.

“A volcanic eruption started this evening at 20:45 near Fagradalsfjall in Geldingadalur. The eruption is considered small at this stage and the eruptive fissure is app. 500 m long. The magma area is app. 1km2. Lava fountains are small,” Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) tweeted. 

Local authories requested people living within several miles of the volcano to remain indoors and keep their windows and doors closed. 

Known as the land of fire and ice, Iceland is Europe’s biggest and most active volcanic region, home to a third of the lava that has flowed on Earth since the Middle Ages, according to Visit Iceland.

The vast North Atlantic island borders the Arctic Circle where it straddles the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a crack on the ocean floor separating the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.

The shifting of these plates is in part responsible for Iceland’s intense volcanic activity.

Thirty-two volcanic systems are currently considered active in the country.

Here are the main eruptions in Iceland’s history:

Bardarbunga – This volcano located under the Vatnajokull glacier — Europe’s largest ice cap — in the heart of southern Iceland’s uninhabited highlands, erupted for five months, from September 2014 to February 2015. It erupted both under the ice and breaching the surface in a fissure at the Holuhraun lava field, creating Iceland’s biggest basalt lava flow in more than 230 years but causing no injuries or damages.

Grimsvotn – The volcano is Iceland’s most active volcano. It is also located under the Vatnajokull glacier, last erupted May 2011, its ninth since 1902.  Over one week, it spouted a cloud of ash 25 kilometres (15 miles) into the sky, causing the cancellation of more than 900 flights, primarily in the UK, Scandinavia and Germany.

Eldfell – The eruption of the volcano occurred in the island of Heimaey in the Westman Islands in 1973. The residents awoke to an eruption in a fissure just 150 metres (yards) from the town centre. The eruption of the Eldfell volcano occurred not only in a populated area — one of the country’s then most important fishing zones — but it also surprised locals at dawn. A third of homes in the area were destroyed and the 5,300 residents were evacuated. One person died.