Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine: One dead, 12 trapped at US mine tourist attraction near Cripple Creek
One person is dead and 12 are trapped in a former Colorado gold mine after an elevator malfunctioned at the tourist site.
The elevator descending into the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near the town of Cripple Creek had a mechanical issue about 150m beneath the surface, creating a “severe danger for the participants” and one person was killed, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell said at a press conference on Thursday.
Twelve people are still at the bottom of the mine, which is about 300m beneath the surface. They are in safe conditions and in communication with authorities, said Mikesell.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Rescuers are working to get the elevator back online.
Mikesell declined to identify the victim or say how they died.
The sheriff said they could rescue the trapped group by rope if necessary, but were hoping to get the elevator system working.
Mikesell said the last time there was an incident was 1986.
Governor Jared Polis said in a statement that the state was sending resources for the rescue effort.
The mine opened in the 1800s and was closed in the 1960s but still operates tours. The mine’s website describes a one-hour tour in which visitors descend 100 stories into the earth. It says visitors can see veins of gold in the rock and ride an underground tram.
Cripple Creek is a town of about 1100 people located southwest of Colorado Springs.
