() –– One person died and 23 were rescued after being trapped hundreds of feet underground at the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, a tourist mine in Cripple Creek, Colorado, authorities said Thursday.
Eleven people were rescued earlier Thursday and a dozen more were trapped at the bottom of the 305-meter-deep mine for several hours before being rescued Thursday night.
“I am relieved that 12 of the people trapped in the Mollie Kathleen mine have been safely rescued. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the person who died in this incident,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a statement Thursday night.
Among those rescued were two children and four victims were treated by medical personnel for minor injuries, according to Mikesell, who did not provide details on mortality.
This Thursday, around noon, the mine suffered a mechanical problem with the elevator system, which caused “a serious problem for the passengers on board,” Mikesell said. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
While the twelve trapped people faced cold temperatures of around 10°C, they had water, blankets, chairs and a radio. However, facilities such as bathrooms were not available underground, according to the tour website.
“We are thrilled to hear that all 12 people still inside the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine were safely rescued,” the fire department said in a social media post Thursday night. “We are grateful for the work of all the first responders who ensured the safety of those still inside. Our condolences go out to the family who lost a loved one tonight, please keep them in your prayers.”
The mine last experienced an accident in 1986, and has operated as a family-owned tourist attraction for “over 50 years,” Mikesell said.
The hour-long tour, a completely underground experience that takes visitors through the 1890s gold mine, “isn’t claustrophobic, but the descent into the shaft is very narrow for 2 minutes (each way) “, states the tour website.
After riding the elevator down, visitors take a short ride on an underground railroad car, then continue on foot for nearly half a kilometer of flat, level walking and are shown how gold mining used to work, according to the website. Visitors are provided with helmets and told to leave personal items such as walkers and wheelchairs during the tour.
‘s Lucy Kafanov and Brad Parks contributed to this report.
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