One person was killed and 12 others were trapped in a former Colorado gold mine after an elevator malfunctioned in a tourist area, authorities said Thursday.
An elevator at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near the town of Cripple Creek experienced mechanical failure 152 feet below, causing “significant danger to participants” and killing one person, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said in a news release. conference.
Twelve people are still under the mine, which is about 305 meters underground. They are in safe condition and in contact with authorities, Mikesell said.
Rescuers are working to get the elevator up and running. Mikesell declined to identify the victim or say how they died.
The court manager said that they can rescue the group trapped by the rope if necessary, but they hope that the elevator system will work.
Mikesell said the last time there was an incident was in 1986. Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that the state is sending resources to help.
“We will do everything possible and help the region to ensure a quick and safe resolution of the situation,” said Polis.
The mine was opened in the 1800s and closed in the 1960s but still runs tours. The mine’s website describes a one-hour tour where visitors descend 100 floors into the world. It says visitors can see veins of gold in the rock and ride an underground tram.
Cripple Creek is a town of about 1,100 people located southwest of Colorado Springs.
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