Iceland records 300-earthquake 'swarm' as Met Office warns of 'imminent volcanic eruption'

The Icelandic Met Office is continuing to warn of the "persistent likelihood of an imminent eruption".

Forecasters said on Sunday there was a "swarm" near the town which lasted just over an hour before midnight.

WATCH HERE: Iceland building defences against imminent volcanic eruption

The seismic activity included an earthquake with a magnitude of three, located three miles northeast of Grindavik, just after midnight on Monday.

Over the previous 48 hours, the strongest earthquake had a 2.7 magnitude.

Grindavik was evacuated two weeks ago after magma-induced seismic activity tore vast chasms through the streets of the town.

The Icelandic Met Office said: "Seismic activity continues to decrease" adding "The likelihood of an imminent volcanic eruption diminishes with time."

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One civil protection official told The Independent: "It is still dangerous here ... I have never seen anything like it before.

"Usually we will have a few minutes warning to get out, but with the weather like it is today, we have even less."

Five ministers from the Icelandic parliament visited Grindavik on Friday.

Evacuated residents have been allowed back since Thursday to pick up more personal belongings.

However, it will be months before they all are able to move back to Grindavik.

This is due to infrastructure damage, Icelandic media RUV quoted public safety director Vidir Reynisson as saying.

Flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal from Reykjavik's Keflavík International Airport.

In total, there were around 700 earthquakes detected near the intrusion on Sunday.