The elevator that takes tourists down into the mine had a device failure at a depth of more than 150 meters. One of the people in the elevator died from an unknown cause.
At least one person has died and 12 people are trapped in an old gold mine operating as a tourist destination in Colorado, USA.
The local sheriff Jason Mikesell told a press conference that the elevator that takes tourists down into the mine had an equipment failure on Thursday at a depth of more than 150 meters. According to the sheriff, the fault caused a “serious danger” to those in the elevator and one of them died. Four others were slightly injured. Mikesell did not say what led to the death of one person in the accident. Later, the elevator was brought back to the ground and the 11 people in the elevator were rescued.
There are 12 people still stuck in the mine below, one of whom is a guide. The sheriff says they’re fine.
The rescue workers have been in contact with the trapped tourists via radio telephone. The purpose is to get the elevator repaired now, so that tourists can be brought up from the mine.
The Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine is over 300 meters deep. According to the site’s website, tourists can, among other things, ride in the mine on an underground trolley.
The mine was opened in the 19th century and closed in the 1960s.
Sources; Reuters, AP
The news is updated.