--- title: "Man Missing After Falling Into Crack in the Earth" description: "Search and rescue teams are frantically searching for man, who has reportedly fallen into a crack in the Earth in Iceland." date: "2024-01-12" modified: "2024-01-12" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/man-missing-iceland-falling-crack-earth" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "earthquakes" - "Iceland" - "the digest" - "volcano" --- # Man Missing After Falling Into Crack in the Earth ![Search and rescue teams are frantically searching for man, who has reportedly fallen into a crack in the Earth in Iceland.]() *\Image: KJARTAN TORBJOERNSSON/AFP via Getty Images\* ## Search and Rescue Search and rescue teams are frantically searching for an unlucky man who has reportedly fallen into a crack in the Earth that opened up following the eruption of a volcano southwest of Iceland's capital Reykjavík. Late last year, tens of thousands of earthquakes rocked the Reykjanes Peninsula, culminating in the eruption of a massive volcano that [spewed gigantic plumes of lava]() into the sky. Now, [according to Icelandic newspaper *Morgunbladid*](), a man who was filling a crevasse in the affected coastal fishing town of Grindavik tumbled into the opening, triggering a [200-person search and rescue operation](). ## Swallowed Whole It sounds like something out of a horror movie. "We came to search until we find him," local police chief Úlfar Lúðvíksson told the newspaper, as translated by Google. Worse yet, it's still unclear how deep or long the crack itself is. "But the crack is deep," Lúðvíksson added. Some have estimated that it could be up to around 100 feet deep. Rescuers are now slowly being lowered into the crack inside a special basket. "Where he fell down, it's just a small hole, but when you get down there, there's a lot more space," rescue team member Jón Þór [told *Morgunbladid*](). The entire town of Grindavik had to be evacuated in early November after [massive cracks formed]() in the ground, releasing ominous quantities of steam. Fortunately, lava flows from the ensuing volcanic eruption have spread into an uninhabited area of the peninsula. Officials have also walled off the town, as well as a nearby power plant. But the nightmare is far from over, and search and rescue teams could be racing against the clock. According to a [Tuesday statement]() by the Icelandic Meteorological Office, there's an "increased risk of an eruption in the coming days." **More on the eruption:** *[Authorities Ask Tourists to Stop Flocking to Site of Volcanic Eruption]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()