Colorado gold mine accident: Colorado gold mine accident: 1 dead, 12 trapped in the Mollie Kathleen gold mine after an elevator malfunction

One person was killed and twelve others were trapped Mollie Kathleen Goldmine attraction in Cripple CreekColorado on Thursday.
A Elevator malfunction at the gold mine near Cripple Creek, about 500 feet (152 meters) underground, posed “significant danger to participants.”
The accident occurred when one tour group was already underground and another group was in the elevator. The malfunction occurred when the elevator was halfway up the mineshaft.
At the same time, twelve people remained safely on the ground, about 1,000 feet (305 meters) deep, in contact with authorities. Eleven passengers were rescued, four suffered minor injuries.
The sheriff did not provide any information about the victim or the details of the mechanical failure.
Responders maintained radio contact with those trapped below, who had access to water, blankets and chairs to keep them comfortable. However, they were not informed about this Deathexcept the elevator wasn’t working properly, the sheriff said.
state engineers, Mine safety Experts and firefighters were on scene, and while using the elevator to rescue those trapped inside remained the safest option, firefighters were also preparing for a possible rope rescue operation.
“We can pull people up to these ropes if we need to, but that also now exposes first responders to the threat and danger that comes with it,” Mikesell said.
The family-run mine, located 110 miles (180 km) south of Denver, has been in operation for 50 years and has had only one other safety incident in 1986.