Hundreds of earthquakes shake in anticipation of a volcanic eruption, hot steam rises from the streets of Iceland

The southern peninsula of Iceland has been affected in recent days by a series of volcanic activities that have resulted in a large crack in the streets of a small town in the country.

Thousands of earthquakes have occurred in the region in recent weeks along a 9-mile-long magma tunnel that lies very close to the earth's surface.

Residents of the coastal town of Grindavík were evacuated due to the threat of a possible volcanic eruption. They were allowed to return home on Monday, but there is a high probability that the volcano will erupt in the coming days.

As of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said 700 earthquakes had been recorded since midnight, the strongest at magnitude 3.1 in Hagafell. Higher figures were also recorded in the previous days.

Footage posted on social media shows steam rising from a crack in the road and a nearby parking lot at the intersection of Austervegur and Stamphólsvegur in Grindavik. (A2 Televizion)