Twelve people have been rescued from a former Colorado gold mine after an elevator malfunction left one person dead, four injured, and trapped the group underground. The incident occurred at the Mollie Kathleen gold mine near Cripple Creek, which is now a tourist site. The elevator malfunctioned at a depth of 500ft (152m) below the surface, creating a severe danger for those inside.
Authorities, including Colorado governor Jared Polis, confirmed that everyone had been safely brought out of the mine. The victim who died and the injured individuals were brought out first, while a group remained trapped about 1,000ft (305m) deep for several hours. First responders were exploring options for rescuing the trapped group, including using ropes in case the elevator could not be repaired.
The trapped group had access to water and the atmosphere in the mine was considered good. They were in communication with authorities via radios, but were not initially informed of the extent of the elevator malfunction to keep them calm. Among those trapped was a member of the family mining operation with mine rescue experience.
The Mollie Kathleen gold mine, which opened in the 19th century and closed in the 1960s, now offers tours to visitors. The tour, lasting approximately one hour, takes visitors down 100 stories into the earth where they can see bands of gold in the rock. Despite the incident, the mine’s website assures visitors that entering the mine is comparable to riding an elevator, with a two-minute descent at a speed of 500ft per minute. Governor Polis praised the efforts of first responders and expressed condolences to the family and friends of the individual who lost their life in the incident.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com