REYKJAVIK, Nov. 13 (CGTN) - Iceland declared a state of emergency after earthquakes raised fears that a volcanic eruption will damage residential areas in the Nordic country for the first time in 50 years.

"We are really concerned about all the houses and the infrastructure in the area," Vidir Reynisson, head of Iceland's Civil Protection and Emergency Management, told AFP.

Iceland evacuated all 4,000 residents of the southwestern town of Grindavík after a 15km-long underground magma tunnel was detected close to the Fagradalsfjall volcano, increasing the likelihood of an imminent eruption.