A volcano once dormant in southwest Iceland erupted Wednesday for the 12th time in four years as nearby resort towns were evacuated as a safety precaution.

Spectacular drone footage captured the Sundhnúkur volcanic fissure erupting in southwest Iceland on Wednesday. A river-like flow of lava illuminated the landscape after a massive 1.5-mile fissure opened up in the early hours of the morning.

The eruption began early July 16 on the Sundhnúkur Crater Row, about 30 miles southwest from the capital, Reykjavik. See images of the eruption.