An elevator malfunction at a former Colorado gold mine has left one person dead, four injured, and a dozen others trapped, authorities said Thursday.
The victim who died and those injured were among 10 people who were brought out of the mine, according to CBS News. The group which remains underground reportedly includes children.
The elevator at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, a former mine that is now a tourist site, near the town of Cripple Creek, experienced a mechanical issue around 500ft (152 meters) beneath the surface. The malfunction created a “severe danger for the participants,” killing one personJason Mikesell, the Teller county sheriff, said.
The dozen remaining at the bottom of the mine are about 1,000ft (305 meters) deep. Mikesell said they are in safe conditions and communicating with authorities
First responders were trying to figure out how the elevator malfunctioned so they could safely rescue those trapped inside the mine, the Denver Post reported. Mikesell said there were other options for rescues than the lift, such as bringing up the trapped by rope, but hoped to get the elevator back online. The last similar incident was in 1986, Mikesell said.
“We have people and engineers from the state of Colorado, from our local jurisdictions, mine safety, from our partnering mine right over here, our fire departments,” CBS News quoted Mikesell as saying. “We have the best people in the country that are here working on this issue right now, and my hope is that we can have it resolved tonight.”
Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine opened in the 19th century but closed in the 1960s. The former mine now offers tours.
The mine’s website said that the tour lasts approximately one hour. Visitors travel 100 stories downward into the earth.
The mine claims that tour participants can see bands of gold in the rock. There is also an underground tram.
“Entering the mine is comparable to riding an elevator,” the website states. The ride down the shaft is two minutes, at a speed of 500ft per minute, or approximately 5mph.
“This may seem fast, however, many modern elevators travel up to 23mph,” the mine’s website said.
After visitors descend the mine, they walk approximately 1/4 mile, ride the tram, and walk more before returning to the surface.
Colorado governor Jared Polissaidstate authorities were deploying resources to the site.
“We will do everything possible and assist the county to ensure a speedy and safe resolution of the situation,” Polis said in a statement.
