One person died and 12 people remain trapped underground in a Colorado gold mine and a rescue operation was underway after an equipment failure.
The incident happened around 12pm on Thursday when an elevator system failed at the Mollie Kathleen Mine in Cripple Creek, a tourist attraction in Teller County.
A mechanical issue took place 500ft deep in the mine during what was supposed to be a two-minute journey creating a severe danger for riders on board the elevator, officials said.
Four people sustained minor injuries and have been seen by medical providers. Two children were involved in the incident.
When officials arrived at the scene, they immediately started working to move the elevator from its position and rescue the 11 people on board. One person in that group is now deceased.
A rescue operation remains underway for those still inside, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said at a news conference. The dozen individuals are stuck at 1,000 feet deep, where a tour is conducted. All of the visitors are safe, the sheriff said.
Officials hope to get the remaining people out by fixing and using the elevator. If that is not possible, authorities said they have other plans in case the equipment is inoperable.
“What I want to make sure before we bring up an elevator with people on it is that it’s safe,” Mikesell said, adding he’s been able to communicate with the group. “What I know right now is that they are safe at that 1,000-foot level.”
He added that the tourists “honestly don’t know that we’ve had an issue other than there’s a problem with the elevator.” He stressed officials want to keep fear levels down among the group to avoid any panic.
Mikesell said he’s not sure when officials will be able to get all the visitors out as it remains unclear what caused the elevator system to malfunction.
He’s hopeful that the rescue operation will be concluded on Thursday evening and told reporters that the last time a similar situation occurred was in 1986.
The 1890’s gold mine is no longer operational but offers tours to visitors which are advertised as an opportunity to experience the “Old West.”
The mine runs 1,000 feet deep and has a temperature of 50 degrees. There are no restrooms underground and visitors are given hard hats.
The people trapped have water, chairs and blankets.
In a statement posted to X, Governor Jared Polis said he had spoken with Teller County Commissioners and local law enforcement and is “closely monitoring the situation.”
A field manager with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, as well as other law enforcement personnel, are on the scene.
“We will do everything possible and assist the county to ensure a speedy and safe resolution of the situation,” Polis concluded.
Tours of the mine are expected to last about an hour and cost $30 for adults. A portion of the mine is very close together, a warning about claustrophobia states. The business is family-owned and has been operating for about 50 years.
Mikesell described the operators as “good folks.”
The mine is supposed to undergo daily inspections. Mikesell said he could not comment on what the inspection results were on the morning of the incident.
This is a developing story…