ICELAND, Jan 14: In the aftermath of a volcanic eruption southwest of Reykjavík, Iceland, a search and rescue operation is underway to locate a man who reportedly fell into a crevasse that opened up due to seismic activity in the Reykjanes Peninsula. The region experienced a series of tens of thousands of earthquakes late last year, culminating in a massive volcano eruption that unleashed towering lava plumes.

The incident occurred in the coastal fishing town of Grindavik, where the unfortunate individual was filling a crevasse when he tumbled into the opening. The situation prompted a 200-person search and rescue mission, reminiscent of a scene from a horror movie, according to reports from the Icelandic newspaper Morgunbladid.

"We came to search until we find him," said local police chief Úlfar Lúðvíksson. The depth and length of the crack remain uncertain, with estimates suggesting it could be up to around 100 feet deep.

Rescue teams are cautiously descending into the crevasse using a specially designed basket. Despite the initial appearance of a small hole, rescue team member Jón Þór revealed, "When you get down there, there's a lot more space."

The town of Grindavik had already faced evacuation in early November when substantial cracks formed in the ground, emitting significant amounts of steam. While the volcanic eruption's lava flows reached uninhabited areas, officials took precautions by isolating the town and a nearby power plant.

The ongoing threat persists, with an "increased risk of an eruption in the coming days," as stated by the Icelandic Meteorological Office on Tuesday. Search and rescue teams are navigating challenging conditions, racing against time to locate the missing individual amid the geological aftermath of the volcanic activity.