One person has been killed and 12 are trapped about 300m (1,000ft) underground at a former Colorado gold mine that’s now a tourist attraction.
It happened around noon on Thursday when a lift failed at Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine attraction in Cripple Creek.
Rescuers are trying to repair the elevator to bring the trapped people back to the surface.
With one group already below ground, the lift had a mechanical fault as another group headed down the mineshaft at around 152m (500ft), said Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell.
The incident killed one person – although it’s not been revealed how they died – and four others suffered minor injuries.
That group was able to return to the surface but the lift is out of commission until the problem is identified and fixed.
Radio communication with the trapped group – 11 tourists and their guide – is working and they have water, blankets and chairs, said the sheriff.
He said those trapped hadn’t been told someone had died, only that there’s an issue with the lift, in order to keep them calm.
Sheriff Mikesell said the guide with the group has mine rescue experience but that firefighters were on standby if the lift fault can’t be fixed.
The mine has been a tourist attraction for 50 years. Pic: AP
“If we have to, we can bring people up on those ropes, but it also subjects those first responders now to the threat
and endangerment of doing so,” said Mr Mikesell.
The former mine is about 110 miles (180km) south of Denver and has been operating tours for 50 years.
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