Dozens of tourists rescued at Colorado gold mine after one dies in accident

Twelve people trapped 1,000 feet underground for hours were rescued at a historic Colorado gold mine Thursday evening after an equipment malfunction during a tour led to one person’s death, authorities said.

Lt. Renee Bunting, a spokeswoman for the Teller County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed the rescue around 7:30 p.m

The rescue caps an hour-long ordeal that began around midday local time.

Authorities were scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday evening.

According to Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell, the Teller County Sheriff’s Office received a report that an elevator carrying visitors to the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine near Cripple Creek malfunctioned and stopped halfway through.

It’s unclear exactly what was broken about the elevator cat or whether the people who were in the elevator at the time were going down into the mine or coming up from a tour, Mikesell said. Officials believe the death occurred during the disturbance. Four other people were slightly injured.

Earlier in the day, 11 other people who were in the elevator were rescued, Mikesell said.

Authorities said the mine itself did not collapse.

Local and state emergency responders, including a state elevator engineer, assisted in the rescue efforts.

The last time a similar episode occurred was in 1986, Mikesell said. He didn’t elaborate.

The Mollie Kathleen gold mine ceased operating as a mine in 1961 but has become a tourist attraction where miners lead visitors on tours 1,000 feet below the surface, its website says. Visitors can see “exposed gold veins in their natural state,” the website says.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he had spoken with local officials and was sending state resources to support recovery efforts.

“We will do everything possible and support the county in ensuring a quick and safe resolution of the situation,” Polis said.

The mine was named after Mollie Kathleen Gortner, who was the first woman to strike gold at the Cripple Creek Gold Camp in 1891.

Cripple Creek, a town of about 1,100 residents, is located about 20 miles southwest of Colorado Springs.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.